MORE NEW BUSINESS: A Ukrainian businessman has hired lobbyists to build support for investigating allegations of corruption by the Ukrainian government including possible “extortion of Ukrainian private sector corporations.” — Sergii Tarasov, the founder of agricultural conglomerate I&U Group, retained Art Estopinan, who served as chief of staff to former House Foreign Affairs Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and previously teamed up with the lobbying firm founded by Trump advisers Corey Lewandowski and Barry Bennett. — Estopinan is carrying out the work under George Seymore’s PR firm Patriot Strategies, according to disclosure filings. The duo plans to engage with U.S. officials, private sector leaders and the press to “draw attention to concerns held by Mr. Tarasov about financial dealings within Ukraine along with potential corruption issues” that “directly affect U.S. national interests,” according to DOJ filings. It’s unclear what those concerns are; Estopinan and Seymore did not respond to questions about the work. WILL ANGOLA’S LOBBYING PAY OFF?: President Joe Biden landed in Angola’s capital today for his first visit to Africa as president, culminating a yearslong lobbying push by the country to forge closer ties with the U.S., but Semafor’s Yinka Adegoke reports that “after spending nearly $20 million in lobbying fees since 2019 … the big question now is whether Angolan President João Lourenço’s government will face a backlash with an unpredictable Donald Trump in the White House.” — “At stake is the US-backed multibillion-dollar Lobito Corridor project, which includes building and revamping railways from Angola’s western Lobito port through to critical mineral hubs in neighboring Zambia and DR Congo. Biden is proudly highlighting the corridor as an exemplar of the kind of African investment that the US should support to counter Chinese influence on the continent.” — “Most Angolans and US-Africa watchers believe a Trump White House will ultimately keep the Lobito Corridor in place, and might even try to spin it as Trump-inspired.” But while there are reasons for optimism, “the sheer unpredictability of Trump’s approach to policymaking means nobody can be sure how it will play out under his White House.” MUSK READ: “Over the past year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk significantly cut the company’s Washington operation, laying off some of its top lobbyists,” The Washington Post’s Cat Zakrzewski, Faiz Siddiqui and Pranshu Verma write, an unusual move for a tech executive but one that falls in line with what former employees and consultants say is Musk’s view of “himself as his own best advocate in Washington.” — “Instead, Musk has sought to form personal relationships with regulators at the Federal Communications Commission, members of Congress — and now the president-elect. That has created a sudden and vexing challenge for those looking to influence the Trump administration through a man who has almost overnight become one of President-elect Donald Trump’s top confidants.” — “Musk’s rise to the center of Trump’s universe has set off a scramble among lobbyists to curry favor with the ‘first buddy.’ But many are finding it challenging to open a line of communication with the billionaire because of his unconventional political and public affairs team, which is known for frequent departures and shake-ups.” CONFLICT OF INTEREST WATCH: Mehmet Oz has been a major cheerleader of a pair of blockbuster weight-loss drugs from Novo Nordisk, which “was a key marketing client of a digital health and media company” Oz co-founded in 2009, the Post’s Desmond Butler, Lauren Weber and Caitlin Gilbert report in a piece examining the financial ties between Oz “and companies whose fortunes he would have a hand in influencing” if confirmed to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. — “If confirmed, Oz would take over two of the largest taxpayer-funded programs just as pharmaceutical companies are lobbying the government to cover the cost of weight-loss drugs.” The Biden administration took a step toward doing so last week, “teeing up a costly decision for the Trump team on whether to expand access to the life-changing medication whose long-term effects have not been established.” — Novo Nordisk told the Post it no longer has an ongoing relationship with Oz, and a spokesperson for the transition vowed that “all nominees and appointees will comply with the ethical obligations of their respective agencies.” — Meanwhile the Washington Examiner’s Gabe Kaminsky reports that Trump’s pick to lead the Energy Department, Chris Wright, “expects to resign as a board member from a company that recently received taxpayer-backed grants — getting ahead of possible conflict of interest accusations.” COMING IN FROM THE COLD: The Wall Street Journal’s Maggie Severns, Preetika Rana and Brian Schwartz report that “corporate America is unleashing an unorthodox campaign to influence Donald Trump’s agenda in the weeks leading up to his second inauguration, a period that is emerging as a key stretch for shaping the next administration.” — “To break into the unusual circle of influence that surrounds Trump, chief executives are discussing whether to try to secure an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast. They are buying the Trump family’s cryptocurrency token and emailing tips about spending cuts to Vivek Ramaswamy.” — “Some lobbyists are instructing companies to scrub their websites and corporate policies of language that favors Democrats and instead tout GOP-friendly issues such as job creation. … The moves are part of an effort by corporate interests to more strongly align with the Republican Party after drifting away from it in recent years.”
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