Though commentators and experts took President Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia as an opportunity to spotlight the country’s poor record on human rights, 28 lobbying and consulting firms currently represent its interests in the United States.
According to the Department of Justice’s Foreign Agents Registration Act database, powerful firms including the Podesta Group, which was co-founded by Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign chairman John Podesta (who no longer works at the firm), and a host of additional companies with powerful ties to the political establishment on both sides of the aisle are registered as active foreign principals on behalf of Saudi Arabia.
On Dec. 23, the Podesta Group disclosed its contract with the Center for Studies and Media Affairs at the Saudi Royal Court, an arm of the country’s government. The firm, currently run by John Podesta’s brother Tony, a major Clinton donor, is set to earn $140,000 a month for performing “public relations services” on behalf of the center through Dec. 31, 2017.
The center also entered into a contract with BGR Government Affairs, part of the BGR Group founded by former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a high-profile Republican, in August 2015. Similarly, BGR’s agreement involved performing “public relations and media management services” for an annual fee of $500,000. That contract was signed by Ed Rogers, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations who served in influential roles in the Reagan White House and donates regularly to GOP candidates, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Squire Patton Boggs disclosed a contract spanning September 2016 through September 2017 to perform “legal and strategic policy advice and advocacy on foreign policy” for $100,000 a month on behalf of the center as well. In the contract, partner Edward J. Newberry, a regular political donor, specified, “I will lead the day-to-day efforts on behalf of our team which will include former Majority Leader Trent Lott, former Senator John Breaux, Jack Deschauer and other professionals as needed from time-to-time.”
Just this March, Hogan Lovells signed a contract with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs extending an agreement from 2007 through the 2017 calendar year for a $125,000 monthly retainer. The firm was set to provide “legal counsel to the foreign principal in connection with litigation support and general foreign policy and related matters” along with “advice on legal, legislative, regulatory and public policy activities of interest.”
Clearly, powerful politicians need not travel out of Washington to experience the influence of the Saudi government.
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
