clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Trump’s new appointee is a lobbyist for Saudi Arabia

June 22, 2017 at 2:05 pm

US President Donald Trump (L) meets with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 20 May 2017 [Bandar Algaloud/Saudi Royal Council]

US President Donald Trump’s new appointee Richard Hohlt is receiving hundreds of thousands of pounds to lobby on behalf of Saudi Arabia, revealed the Centre for Public Integrity.

According to US Department of Justice records reviewed by the Centre – whose stated mission is “to reveal abuses of power” – Hohlt has received some $430,000 in exchange for giving advice to the Saudi government on legislative matters and public affairs.

Read: Saudi Arabia pays $270,000 to Trump Hotel in spending on US lobbyists

The Centre reported on its website that the long-time Republican lobbyist had received the large sum for his lobbying efforts on behalf of the Saudi Kingdom since January:

Trump’s decision to appoint a registered foreign agent to the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships clashes with the president’s promise to clean up Washington and limit the influence of special interests.

Commenting on one of Trump’s tweets during the campaign, where he vowed to “issue a lifetime ban” on lobbyists on behalf of foreign governments, the Centre added:

“Trump singled out lobbyists for foreign governments for special criticism, saying they shouldn’t be permitted to contribute to political campaigns. Hohlt is himself a Trump donor.”