News: Allen out at Brookings

Monday, June 13, 2022

Allen out at Brookings

Jun 13, 2022

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By Caitlin Oprysko

Presented by

With Daniel Lippman

ALLEN OUT AT BROOKINGS: The fallout from an illegal foreign lobbying probe into former U.S. officials continued over the weekend, with former Marine Gen. John Allen announcing his resignation as president of the Brookings Institution amid a federal investigation into whether he violated FARA.

— In a note to Brookings staff that did not explicitly mention the probe into whether he illegally lobbied U.S. officials on behalf of Qatar, Allen wrote on Sunday that "while I leave the institution with a heavy heart, I know it is best for all concerned in this moment." Ted Gayer will serve as acting president until a new interim president is named, Brookings said.

— "The integrity and objectivity of Brookings's scholarship constitute the institution's principal assets, and Brookings seeks to maintain high ethical standards in all its operations. Our policies on research independence and integrity reflect these values," Glenn Hutchins and Suzanne Nora Johnson , the co-chairs of Brookings' board of trustees, wrote in a note announcing Allen's resignation.

— Allen, a former four-star general who led U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan and then became president of the prestigious think tank in 2017, had been placed on leave by Brookings after the publication of court filings revealing that federal investigators had seized electronic data and accused Allen of making false statements in a wide-ranging probe. Allen has not been charged with any wrongdoing, and has previously denied working as a foreign agent of Qatar, whose government had previously been one of Brookings' top benefactors.

— Prior to Allen's resignation, the allegations prompted concern from Capitol Hill on numerous fronts. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), in a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, wrote that "Americans must be able to trust that the officials that are chosen to represent them as diplomats, and to command the nation's military forces, are acting solely in the best interests of the United States, and are not compromised by conflicts of interest," and should be barred from trading on that trust to aid foreign governments after their public service ends.

— Warren asked for more information on Allen's contacts with U.S. officials pertaining to Qatar, as well as "the extent to which former DoD or State officials may be working for foreign governments, and the efforts by DoD and the State Department to prevent these officials from violating the law or inappropriately or unethically aiding foreign governments."

— Meanwhile, Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, pushed for an investigation into Brookings . Though Brookings said last week it "has strong policies in place to prohibit donors from directing research activities," and has insisted it is not under investigation, Bergman called that revelation "deeply concerning" given Allen's alleged use of his official Brookings email — Allen was a part-time senior fellow at the time — for some communications relating to Qatar, according to investigators. Bergman also highlighted instances in which, he asserted, Brookings' work aligned with the interests of the Qatari government.

Good afternoon and welcome to PI. Tips: coprysko@politico.com. Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.

CUTTS DECAMPS FOR DENTONS: The Squire Patton Boggs-to-Dentons pipeline is still flowing. Matthew Cutts, who was a partner at the firm for close to a decade, will join Dentons' rapidly growing public policy practice as head of U.S. policy and government relations. He's the latest Squire Patton Boggs employee to leave for Dentons in recent months, following the departures of former Rep. Joe Crowley, Callie Fuselier, Patrick Kirby and Elaine Hillgrove.

— In an interview, Cutts said that he couldn't turn down the opportunity Dentons presented. "It's a massive platform, the largest law firm in the world, so it's kind of client-rich, and with Dentons' … commitment to grow their policy shop, it just seemed like a really exciting opportunity," he told PI.

— Cutts was part of the Breaux-Lott Leadership Group, the lobbying shop founded by former Sens. John Breaux and Trent Lott that was later acquired by Squire Patton Boggs. Breaux and Lott left Squire abruptly just before the 2020 election and are now partners at Crossroads Strategies, but Cutts stayed at Squire Patton Boggs.

FLYING IN: The National Federation of Independent Business is kicking off its annual fly-in today, the trade group's first in-person since 2019. More than 100 small-business owners from across the country will meet with lawmakers to discuss several issues affecting their businesses, including inflation, labor shortages and supply chain problems, and will also press lawmakers to make permanent the small-business tax deduction.

TheGROUP TO FUNDRAISE FOR GOP MEMBERS: TheGROUP D.C. , the lobbying firm whose ties to the Biden administration and Democratic lawmakers have fueled a business boom over the past year, is set to raise money for two Republican lawmakers later this summer, according to invitations obtained by PI.

— The first fundraiser, on June 22, will benefit Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, with admission starting at $500 for individuals or $1,000 for PACs. The second event, on July 19, will benefit Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. Suggested contributions for that fundraiser start at $250 for individuals or $1,000 for PACs, but donors can be named a co-host for $1,000 per person or $5,000 per PAC.

— Both fundraisers will be hosted by the firm's two Republican lobbyists, Stacy Barton and Dwayne Bolton, and come as the GOP appears poised to retake control of the House following November's midterms. The firm has several clients that regularly lobby on defense issues and would likely benefit from face time with Rogers — who could chair the powerful Armed Services Committee in a Republican majority — including Lockheed Martin, Siemens and Huntington Ingalls.

— TheGROUP, which has deep ties to Washington's most powerful Democrats, including President Joe Biden, has hosted multiple members of House leadership for fundraisers this cycle, including Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Whip Jim Clyburn, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark and caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries. The firm's client list has ballooned from about a dozen in 2019 to more than three dozen last year, while annual lobbying revenues more than doubled from $3.1 million in 2019 to $7.5 million in 2021.

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BHARARA HEADS BACK TO PRIVATE PRACTICE: "Preet Bharara, the former federal prosecutor, high-profile former President Donald Trump critic and host of a popular podcast, is joining WilmerHale, the law firm that has become home to a number of former government officials," The New York Times' Benjamin Weiser and Ben Protess report.

— "It will be Bharara's first stint in private practice since the Trump administration fired him in 2017, after he refused to quit as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. During his more than seven years in the post, Bharara attracted headlines for a crackdown on insider trading on Wall Street and corruption in New York politics."

— "Bharara, 53, is joining Wilmer as a partner. He said in an interview that he envisioned his role less as one of representing clients in court and more as one of advising executives and boards and companies on 'how to do the right thing in the first place — and how to stay out of trouble.'" He told the Times that he also expects to focus on ESG issues.

— "Wilmer has been an active and lucrative passageway between Washington and Big Law. Some progressives have been critical of such moves. The firm has been home to Robert Mueller, who returned after serving as special counsel in the investigation of Russia's 2016 election interference (he retired last year); Jamie Gorelick, a deputy attorney general in President Bill Clinton's administration; Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary under President Biden; and Brendan McGuire , who in January became chief counsel to Mayor Eric Adams of New York."

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Jobs Report

— Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan is stepping down from his role to become the director of public policy and U.S. state strategies for Roblox.

— Becky Beland McNaught is now senior vice president of communications and external affairs for the Sacramento Kings. She was previously chief of staff to first partner of California Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and is a Barbara Boxer and Senate Small Business alum.

— Stephen Gordon is now director of government affairs at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. He previously was a senior professional staff member for the House Oversight Committee.

— Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions has hired Spencer Talley as a government relations coordinator. He was a former CRES intern and also interned for Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.).

— Sirona Strategies has added Madelynn Valu and Rikki Lam as directors of government affairs. Valu was most recently at Circulo Health and Lam previously worked at the Association of American Medical Colleges.

— Chelsea Arnone has joined the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives as director of federal affairs after running her own government affairs consultancy since 2019. She previously served as Vizient 's regulatory affairs & government relations director.

— Cinthya Hagemeier is now senior communications officer for the Resettlement, Asylum and Integration U.S. program at the International Rescue Committee. She most recently was a communications associate for the IMF.

— Bill Cortese is now executive director of American Promise, which lobbies to curb outside and foreign spending and dark money in U.S. elections by adopting a new amendment to the Constitution. Cortese is a Chris Christie, Mercury Public Affairs and Associated Builders and Contractors alum.

— Maya Noronha is now special counsel for external affairs at First Liberty Institute. She is a visiting legal fellow at the Independent Women's Forum and is also a Trump HHS alum.

— Trisha Miller is joining the White House Climate Policy Office as senior director for industrial emissions, Morning Energy reports. Miller leads Elevate Energy 's policy operation and was previously senior director at Breakthrough Energy. She was also on the Energy Department agency review team for the Biden transition.

— Michael Shapiro is leaving DOT to return to the private sector in New York. As deputy assistant secretary of Transportation for economic policy, he's played a big role in the department's infrastructure work.

— Maddie Davidson is now director of government affairs at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. She most recently was health policy director for Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.).

A message from Freight Rail Works:

New Joint Fundraisers

Barrett Brigade Victory Fund (Tom Barrett for Congress, NRCC, Michigan Republican Party)
Eric Lynn Victory Fund (Eric Lynn for Congress, Democratic Executive Committee of Florida)
Rollins Victory Fund (Will Rollins for Congress, California Democratic Party)

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.

New PACs

Back to School USA (Super PAC)
Florida True Democrats PAC (Super PAC)
GEORGIANS FOR A BETTER FUTURE (Super PAC)
Red Hook PAC (Leadership PAC: Marcus Molinaro)
STRYKER PAC (Leadership PAC: Kelly Lawler)

New Lobbying Registrations

Desimone Consulting, LLC: Washington State Department Of Natural Resources
Drummond Woodsum Strategic Consulting LLC: K & L Gates, LLP On Behalf Of Biomason
Drummond Woodsum Strategic Consulting LLC: K & L Gates, LLP On Behalf Of Ecotech Recycling
Drummond Woodsum Strategic Consulting LLC: K & L Gates, LLP On Behalf Of Witricity
EMC Strategy Group, LLC: Floresville Economic Development Corporation
Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Yongqing Limited Liability Company
Mcguirewoods Consulting (A Subsidiary Of Mcguirewoods LLP): Tire Pros Francorp, LLC
Meridian Government Relations: Arizona Hospital And Healthcare Association
Meridian Government Relations: Montana Hospital Association
Meridian Government Relations: North Dakota Hospital Association
Meridian Government Relations: Washington State Hospital Association
Putala strategies: Goldstein Policy Solutions LLC (On Behalf Of Raft Technologies)

New Lobbying Terminations

DLA Piper LLP (US): Planet Labs Federal, Inc.
FTI Government Affairs: Humana Inc

A message from Freight Rail Works:

America's freight railroads provide more than just critical connections across the country. We help the U.S. economy compete on the global stage. We invest more than $20 billion a year to maintain and improve our infrastructure, so we can provide American industries with the safe and sustainable freight transportation they need to remain competitive worldwide. From construction materials to intermodal, agriculture to automotive, we're working 24/7 to better serve our customers through current supply chain issues and to prepare for future challenges. Click through to see how and why freight rail works.