Ecuador inks $300K lobbying contract amid Snowden asylum fight

Source: The Hill

Ecuador has inked a $300,000 contract with a top lobby firm as it takes heat from Washington for refusing to rule out asylum for National Security Agency (NSA) leaker Edward Snowden.

The Embassy of Ecuador has signed a roughly six-month contract with Van Scoyoc Associates to lobby Congress and the Obama administration, according to Justice Department records.

The firm “will provide counsel to the Embassy of Ecuador on strengthening the Embassy's ties to the United States government and relevant U.S. institutions,” which “will involve contact with officials of the executive branch and members and staff of the U.S. Congress where the Republic of Ecuador has a direct interest or need for advocacy and consulting assistance,” according to Justice records.

Van Scoyoc Associates will be working on “priority issues” like “bi-lateral dialogue, foreign affairs, trade, economic development, migration, and security/defense.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/311307-ecuador-inks-300k-lobbying-deal-amid-snowden-asylum-fight