Saudis spent $270K at Trump hotel amid lobbying efforts
Source: The Hill
Saudis spent $270K at Trump hotel amid lobbying efforts: report
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Saudi Arabia reportedly spent more than a quarter of a million dollars at President Trumps Washington hotel as part of their lobbying efforts against a controversial terrorism-related law.
The kingdom hired lobbyists and consultants to push back against the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), which would allow U.S. citizens to sue other governments for terrorist attacks, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
Those hired individuals then spent about $190,000 on lodging, $78,000 on catering as well as $1,600 on parking at the Trump-owned luxury hotel, The Daily Caller first reported.
MSLGroup, a public relations firm, disclosed the kingdoms payments last week while filing the foreign lobbying paperwork with the Justice Department.
Michael Petruzzello, an MSLGroup executive, told the Journal that a subcontractor in the company first made the payments to the Trump International Hotel, which the Saudi government then reimbursed. Petruzello acknowledged that the efforts were part of a lobbying campaign in which military veterans would be brought to Capitol Hill to speak out against the legislation.
Congress passed JASTA last year, over then-President Barack Obamas veto.
Victims families and survivors from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks had been pushing for legislation like JASTA which would allow them to sue any foreign government allegedly involved.
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/336444-saudis-spent270000-at-trump-hotel-as-part-of-lobbying-efforts-report
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This is why the Emoluments Clause was written into the Constitution, right? To prevent public servants from using government office to enrich themselves?
dhol82
(9,353 posts)But now, nothing matters anymore.
SergeStorms
(19,204 posts)if a DEMOCRAT tried this shit! But.......well you know, IOKIYAR.
dhol82
(9,353 posts)rockfordfile
(8,704 posts)Pluvious
(4,313 posts)TomSlick
(11,100 posts)if the Congress decides that it does. Until the GOP majority decides that the country is more important than their party, we're left just shaking our heads.
C_U_L8R
(45,003 posts)SunSeeker
(51,574 posts)War Is A Racket
(28 posts)Trump supposedly was going after the Saudis and calling out Bush Sr's involvement with them and the 9-11 28 classified pages. And he attacked Clinton for taking money like Bush did from them but then suddenly decides there's more money and protection playing ball with these heinous, misogynistic dictators??? What happened? The ORB lol? What a piece of crap.