Donald Trump suddenly lashed out at the influence of foreign lobbyists on Monday, calling to ban them from donating to U.S. candidates and accusing his rival of being corrupted by foreign interests. “The reason Hillary Clinton pushes for NAFTA, or the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and for completely open borders, is because her international donors control her every move,” Trump said, announcing what he called his ethics reform plan.
But newly filed campaign reports show several donations from foreign lobbyists to his own campaign. They are among a tide of other lobbyists, mainstream special-interest groups and consumer-facing companies that have begun to heavily fund Trump’s political campaign, which was previously fueled by small donors.
- Marc Lampkin, a lobbyist who appeared at a campaign meeting in September at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., is a registered lobbyist for the Saudi Arabian government, as well as for number of U.S. companies including Johnson & Johnson, McDonalds, Comcast, and Pfizer. Lampkin, a former aide to Rep. John Boehner, gave the Trump joint fundraising committee $2,700.
- David Tamasi, the D.C. chairman of the Trump Victory committee, is a registered agent of André Okombi Salissa, a leading politician from the ruling party in the Republic of Congo. Tamasi has organized fundraising efforts on Trump’s behalf and donated to the campaign.
- Several officials from the lobbying firm BGR Group have donated to Trump. Two of them, founder Lanny Griffith and general counsel Dan Murphy, were spotted chatting about campaign strategy with Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr. The firm represents a variety of foreign interests, such as the the embassy of Korea, embassy of Bangladesh, and the Center of Studies and Media Affairs at the Saudi Royal Court.
- Bob Livingston, the former House Republican lawmaker turned lobbyist, was an early supporter of Trump’s campaign. Livingston’s registration forms at the Department of Justice, which monitors foreign lobbying, shows that he represents the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten.
The latest quarterly disclosure for the Trump-Republican National Committee joint fundraising committee revealed contributions from other lobbyists as well. Charles Black, a former government official who helped rally support for NAFTA, later became a lobbyist for a number of foreign and domestic clients, and now represents Alphabet, the parent company of Google, recently became a Trump donor. Van Hipp Jr., the owner of American Defense International — a lobbying firm that specializes in representing weapons makers, including L-3 Communications, Northrop Grumman, and drone manufacturer General Atomics — gave $50,000, making him one of Trump’s largest K Street contributors.
Other lobbyists who now count themselves as Trump donors include Tim Costa, Daniel Crowley, Jose Fuentes, Steven Hart, and Kenneth Kies.
The latest filing for the Trump joint fundraising committee also reveals that several mainstream corporate firms are now explicitly supporting the Republican ticket. AFLAC, Reynolds America, Independence Blue Cross, and Continental Resources, the natural gas drilling giant, transferred cash to the Trump Victory using company political action committees. Murray Energy Corporation, the privately held coal mining company, gave $100,000 to Trump Victory, the largest donation from a corporate PAC. As we reported in August, the Geo Group, one of the largest private prison companies in the world, began backing both the Trump campaign and a Trump-supporting Super PAC.
Lobbyists do more than just donate to the Trump campaign. Trump’s transition effort is led by lobbyists, meaning lobbyists would play a role in helping to select the personnel and cabinet members of Trump’s administration, if it comes to that. Richard Hohlt, a lobbyist for Chevron, and pharmaceutical lobbyist Rich Bagger are leading that effort.
Top photo: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Oct. 14, 2016.
What kind of story are you working on now Lee. I’m sorry I was so disruptive to your day I’m sure you wanted to get your work done. They won’t let me read your twitter account.
Trump voter here. These are valid critique’s of an apparent contradiction. Although I would ask if these people donated to Trumps campaign or the GOP itself? Amd knowing Trump, he’d probably return their money if pressed.
And I notice it seems like all of these people are Americans, residing here who donate money. Is the campaign really able to vet them if they donate money online? Just wondering
And not one mention of AIPAC, the Israel Lobby that owns our Congress with unlimited shekels and dollars. The most influential and detrimental lobby of them all. Shame on you Lee Fang.
I read the article with an open mind and found it to be pretty thin gruel. I’ll make my case as best I can:
Mark Lapkin might have given the campaign 2700 dollars to sit at a fundraiser for Trump expecting some sort of access. Did he receive any? THAT would be a story. This is just speculation.
The connection between Trump – Tamasi – and the Congo seems really tenuous. I mean go ahead and read that line again. Is there really any evidence of Congo having an influence on the campaign? Again, THAT would be a story. This is just pretty wild speculation.
With the third point about BGR group – what does chatting about strategy mean? What was said? Is there anything more here?
Bob Livingston – Does his representation of that bank have anything to do with Trump?
I’m just not seeing the connections here. I feel like there are much more substantiated connections (with clear evidence) between foreign money and Clinton. Just my opinion, open to others.
>>> The connection between Trump – Tamasi – and the Congo seems really tenuous. I mean go ahead and read that line again. Is there really any evidence of Congo having an influence on the campaign? Again, THAT would be a story. This is just pretty wild speculation.<<<
Do you know what the Congo and Afghanistan have in common?????
You should. It's the secret to the "insiders" of 9-11.
You mind giving me a link that explains it succintly? Is this something that Trump is involved in? And how important is it in the grand scheme of American candidates accepting foreign money?
Again, I respect the Intercept a lot – Glen Greenwald is a great journalist. I’m just not seeing accurate coverage of Clinton’s foreign money connections which are actually incredibly corrupt and against US/Foreign law.
>>> You mind giving me a link that explains it succintly? <<<
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_mining_in_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congo_Crisis
Afghan: https://www.bgs.ac.uk/AfghanMinerals/About.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiangxi_Copper
Western money flows thru Jiangxi (Hong Kong) — Placing Agent: Citibank — A Rockefeller shell
Check out Wikileaks: Kissinger State Department Cables 1973
Hamid Karzai's own words before being installed after the Massoud assassination and 9-11: http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/breakfast-hamid-karzai/p4836
And, John Kerry even says so: http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/afghanistan-defining-possibilities/p34634
John Kerry CONFESSION: at 3:20 minutes into the Video…..
3 Trillion (that's what it's all worth) buys a lot of accomplices.
>>> Again, I respect the Intercept a lot – Glen Greenwald is a great journalist. I’m just not seeing accurate coverage of Clinton’s foreign money connections which are actually incredibly corrupt and against US/Foreign law.<<<
You asked for links…. this is a TINY amount that I've read… I've traced the history clear back to the reign of Alexander the Great… but, especially, the 3 Anglo-Afghan wars of the 1800s and the British East India Company (the Tea Tax Collectors in Boston… HINT HINT)
As Bruce Willis said in the movie "Die Hard"…. "Welcome to the party, pal!"
Trump supporters are amazing studies in cognitive dissonance. They’re right here, on TI, commenting on this piece in full blown denial regardless of the facts presented. Truth means nothing to Trump’s worshippers. They are all living contradictions and proud of it.
I’m not one of those living contradictions.
However, I do understand where Trump is coming from. But, more than that, I know why some of these outfits are now “jumping onboard” the Trump Wagon.
Why? Not all that long ago, Trump was not receiving donations from the likes of Google. In fact, Google was totally behind Hillary. But, Al Gore and Collin Powell are on the Board of KPCB — the main VC firm behind Google.
Another example… the dude from the Congo. Do you know what that means????? (HINT: Trump now knows how bad the shit really is … and even the truth about 9-11).
Politics…. in the end, the corporate cash ends up “buying” favors when the alternative may be prison.
Good bad or otherwise, I believe Trump is sincere about cleaning shit up. It’s not gonna be pretty. But, I’m afraid it has gotten so intolerable that it’s gonna be one-step-less than intolerable to get out of this caca.
Blame the people who got us into the mess, first. Together, we’ll have to keep Trump on the straight and narrow… assuming the preexisting treacherous, psychopathic establishment doesn’t do him in.
is DT really interested in 911?
Wouldn’t you be?
Who was in the Oval Office in 1993?
cognitive disonance?
is that like when one is unable to merge their private face with their public face?
is that like when someone sells weapons from libya, foments a revolution in syria, gets an ambassador killed and then “denies responsibility regardless of the facts presented”?
is that like when someone advocates democracy then supports a coup whereupon the lead protester is murdered while she slept along with hundreds of others and then the hellary person then embraces the regime change of military predators?
is that what you mean by “cognitive dissonance”?
or when the hellary person worships the ground of genocidal maniacs like netanyahu and kissinger who – btw – never acknowledged responsibility for the murder of 34 American service persons aboard the USS Liberty?
is that what you mean by “living contradiction”?
What does the 2-faced wallstreet whore pay you for showing up and making up whatever the hell your cognitively dissonant mind contrives?
go ahead – make my day.
For what it worth numnuts. Israel took full responsibility for the USS Liberty attack, right from the get go. They never denied it for a second.
Actually, wasn’t Israel massacring captured Egyptian soldiers, ISIS-style, right before the USS Liberty was attacked? They could have been collecting radio transmissions that would have proved this was happening:
http://www.wrmea.org/2007-may-june/israels-hush-up-machine-in-action-denying-story-israel-executed-egyptian-prisoners.html
“Actually, wasn’t Israel massacring captured Egyptian soldiers, ISIS-style, right before the USS Liberty was attacked? ”
Actually no, and how does that refute my post.
@Lee Fang
Past Performance is no guarantee of future results
Trump has to play by the same rules everyone else does. There is no particular hypocrisy in wanting to create a better system while playing by the rules of the current system.
Someone like Lee Fang should be able to figure this out.
I don’t like Trump’s stand on torture and I despise some elements of his economic plan(ners). Especially Stephen Moore of the Heritage foundation.
You should go after Trump on legitimate issues. There are some.
You overlooked trhe begging e-mails his campaign sent to British MPs
No one is immune from hypocrisy. Why it doesn’t matter when he or she is caught is beyond me.
Thank you, Lee Fang.
criminal hellary is the ONLY wallstreet whore who deals crookedly to promote and foment wars that cost American lives and the American economy trillions that her band of thieves rake.
Hellary Clinton and her cadre of organised criminals of the DNC have effectively declared war on America. Her ambition to support the TPP and throw America and Americans under the bus is nothing short of treason.
You should apply to the Alex Jones website’s merchandise division. This gem would look great on a bumper sticker or a T-shirt!
I recommended the Bill Clinton rape whistles. With the slogan “Blow the whistle on corruption!”
They are available now at Alex’s store.
You are OT.
that can happen
the way this site plays, sometimes it flips to another article without me catching the change
altho – i do tend to lean towards putting it to hillary because i lover her just so much
thanks for the heads up
upon further review i see what i did
i was put off by the below-the-belt punch that Lee Fang – good man – did. So i just threw a sucker punch back.
So you’re equating Donald accepting tens of thousands of dollars (lol) from foreign lobbyists – a miniscule percentage of his total funds, with Hillary Clinton literally accepting over a hundred million from FARA registered foreign lobbyists, in addition to hundreds of millions donated by foreign GOVERNMENTS and lobbyists since she was appointed SOS to the Clinton Foundation?
Very weak, Fang. I expect a higher standard of journalism from The Intercept.
I expect critiques of all public figures where they are due, but false equivalencies can be extremely misleading and dishonest. This is such a case.
While Trump’s transition team is led by former lobbyists did those lobbyists or the corporations they represent provide Trump’s campaign with $10s of millions in donations. No they did not your article is deliberately misleading. They were hired by the Trump campaign. Mr. Hohlt, as a consultant for the S&L institutions, helped them achieve a favorable outcome at least this time his skills are being used for far more #maga purposes. For the record super pacs & other groups have donated less than 1 per-cent of the Trump campaign’s total.
P.S. I usually like your articles.
ditto
Sometimes writers act like arsonists without a conscience which is why the elite media pushed WMD on America.
i dont suspect Fang of being a propagansist but this article is misleading.
Kinda wonder why he is pushing this junk.
Trump does business, and it was not illegal, so that should be dropped.
Ar least he wants to do something about it rather than unsustainable OPEN BORDERS.
The Center-Cl-CR-publicprivate views is THE DEFINITION OF A LIE.
Somehow a dishonest woman, backed by a Pres that denies the course of justice to be, is somehow going to result in good governance for ONE term of four years.
These two certain have a moral obligation to NOT appoint SCJudges!
Clintonemail.com to talk to criminals.
Sign pnline PETITION TO CLOSE DOWN CLINTONFOUNDATION.
Trump lashes out against anything like a spoiled brad – his wife is not really off when she says his comments were boy talk. The guy is stuck in teenager mode.
ok.
but queen hellary is stuck in screw America mode (tpp) and….
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3846266/Mexican-federal-judge-presided-appeals-high-powered-drug-kinpins-like-El-Chapo-assassinated-outside-home.html
build the wall.
To be fair, Clinton and Trump both listen more to domestic lobbyists than foreign ones. That said, Trump and Clinton both are way too cozy with lobbyists.
With Trump, donations from lobbyists are them hedging their bets in case he wins. Clinton, on the other hand, is totally in bed with corporations and their lobbyists.
Lobbyists donating to Trump is them hedging their bets in case he wins. Clinton, on the other hand, is totally in bed with corporations and their lobbyists.
That’s all good to know. I’d bet money if you brought that up to the Trump finance team, they’d return the money. However, thousands here and there pales in comparison to the millions and tens of millions the Clintons have taken from foreign governments and foreign interests.
A dollar is a dollar is a dollar.
>>> I’d bet money if you brought that up to the Trump finance team, they’d return the money.<<<
Trust me on this: No they won't return it. Why? Call it "ransom"… cuz I think Trump is really gonna clean the shit up, now… REALLY. These are "ransom" or "redemption" payments that will eventually keep certain people from hanging at the end of a rope.
I'm more confident in that statement than I've ever been.