The temptations of the swamp appear to have seduced yet another would-be drainer.
Earlier this month, Healy Baumgardner-Nardone, who served as a senior aide to President Trump’s campaign, filed a Foreign Agents Registration Act form with the Department of Justice on May 19, formally disclosing her efforts to lobby on behalf of the Malaysian government.
The disclosure, first reported by Lachlan Markay of The Daily Beast, reveals that Baumgardner-Nardone is being compensated $250,000 for her work “[assisting] the Godfrey Group, Ltd. with government relations and public relations services in support of the Government of Malaysia and strengthening the U.S. – Malaysian relationship.”
Baumgardner-Nardone, described by Bloomberg as a “20-year political operative who has worked on four presidential campaigns,” resigned from the president’s bid in September, but noted she was looking forward to “honorably casting my vote for Mr. Trump on Election Day.” According to Markay, “two former Trump campaign staffers say Baumgardner remained well-liked on the campaign and has maintained connections to the president’s inner circle.”
That Baumgardner-Nardone chose to name her firm “The 45 Group,” invoking her close ties to Trump world, implies pretty clearly she intends to rely on those connections to benefit the firm’s clients — a hallmark practice of the Washington swamp the president so often decries.
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
