Kim and Connie Schmett’s Saudi Scandal Prompts New Iowa Laws

May 31, 2018March 5, 2021 editor28pages Clive, Connie Schmett, Dustin DeMoss, Iowa, JASTA, Polk County, Qorvis MSLGROUP, Saudi Arabia, veterans

State officials banned from working for foreign governments

By Brian P. McGlinchey

In the wake of reporting by 28Pages.org and Associated Press that two Iowa officials worked for Saudi Arabia against a law that enabled 9/11 victims to proceed with a civil suit against the kingdom, the state has enacted legislation barring state officials from working for foreign governments.

Connie Schmett and her husband Kim Schmett are gubernatorial appointees to three state panels. Connie sits on the Health Facilities Council and the Cultural Trust Board of Trustees, and Kim chairs the Employment Appeal Board. Continue reading →

Iowa Governor Seeks Review of Officials Who Worked for Saudis

November 8, 2017March 5, 2021 editor28pages Bleeding Heartland, Connie Schmett, Dustin DeMoss, Ethics Board, Iowa, JASTA, Kim Reynolds, Kim Schmett, lobbying, lobbyists, Saudi Arabia

Ethics board to investigate Kim and Connie Schmett’s work for Saudi Arabia while they served in Iowa government

By Brian P. McGlinchey

Iowa governor Kim Reynolds yesterday announced that her office has asked the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board to review the case of two current state officials who did political work for Saudi Arabia at the same time they held important government positions.

Connie Schmett and her husband Kim Schmett earned $101,500 working for Saudi Arabia against a federal law that cleared the way for 9/11 victims to sue the kingdom for its alleged support of the September 11 plot. Continue reading →

Vet Says Iowa Official Used Deceit to Recruit Him to Lobby in Saudi Drive Against 9/11 Law

September 6, 2017March 5, 2021 editor28pages Cole Azare, Connie Schmett, David Niffenegger, Dustin DeMoss, FARA, GOP, Iowa, Jason Johns, JASTA, Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, Kim Schmett, lobbying, lobbyists, Qorvis, Saudi Arabia, veterans, Wes Farno

Veteran’s claim: Connie Schmett recruited him to lobby for changes to JASTA, but didn’t disclose Saudi sponsorship of the effort

A gubernatorial appointee to two state boards, Schmett’s endorsement is sought by national presidential candidates

Schmett registered with the DOJ as an agent of the kingdom; Schmett & Associates received $101,500 for services rendered

By Brian P. McGlinchey

Connie Schmett, a notable figure in Iowa GOP politics and an appointee to two state government boards, recruited a military veteran to travel to Washington to lobby for changes to the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA)—and he says she withheld the fact that Saudi Arabia was behind the campaign.

In October 2016, Schmett and her husband, Kim, registered with the Department of Justice as agents of the Saudi government working for changes to JASTA under the supervision of lobbying firm Qorvis MSLGROUP. According to a Qorvis disclosure filing, Schmett & Associates received $101,500 for service to the kingdom. Continue reading →

The Saudi Agents Next Door: Americans Who Cashed in on Campaign to Stop 9/11 Trial

July 13, 2017March 5, 2021 editor28pages 29:11 Strategies, 9/11, Advocacy Solutions LLC, Billy Horton, Capitol Media Group, Capitol Strategies, Community Strategies Inc, Connie Schmett, Cory Black, Creative Communications, D. Hollis Felkel II, Daniel Lederman, Dauntless Communications, David H. Carroll, Duane Morris Government Strategies, Eaton River Strategies, Eric Eisenhammer, Felkel Group, Flywheel Government Solutions, Francis X. McMahon, Frank Bickford, Gibson McKay, Hubbell Communications, Hynes Communications, J. Ballard Everett, Jackson-West Consulting, Jason Johns, JASTA, Jeffrey Dixon, Joe Kuklis, Jon Bombardieri, Kathie Summers Grice, Kim Schmett, Kirsten Kukowski, KK & Company, KOFA Public Affairs, Kristen Sheehan, Kyle Moyer & Company, lobbying, lobbyists, LS2 Group, Michael Gibson, Novus Public Affairs, Organized Karma, Paul Stanley, Paul Young, Peritus Public Relations, Public Policy Solutions, Qorvis MSLGROUP, Randy Hayden, Resch Strategies, Rick Abbruzzese, Roy Lenardson, Sarah Durand, Saudi Arabia, Scott Wheeler, Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod, Shelbi Lewark, Sherpa Public Affairs, Steven Cohen, Strategic Advocacy LLC, The Resources Group, Vectre Corporation, Wellington Strategies, Wes Farno, Yocheved Chevy Weiss

Saudi Arabia spent millions trying to keep 9/11 families and survivors from presenting evidence against the kingdom

By Brian P. McGlinchey

**Mike Gibson of Community Strategies Inc**

Last October, the Saudi government partnered with Qorvis MSLGROUP to launch a massive, nationwide lobbying effort aimed at undermining a new law that cleared the way for 9/11 families and survivors to sue Saudi Arabia for its alleged support of al Qaeda and its hijackers.

Now, a disclosure filing with the Department of Justice gives an indication of the high cost of the effort, and helps shine a light on Americans all across the country hired to execute the kingdom’s campaign to keep evidence of its links to 9/11 out of court. Continue reading →

State officials banned from working for foreign governments

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Ethics board to investigate Kim and Connie Schmett’s work for Saudi Arabia while they served in Iowa government

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Veteran’s claim: Connie Schmett recruited him to lobby for changes to JASTA, but didn’t disclose Saudi sponsorship of the effort

A gubernatorial appointee to two state boards, Schmett’s endorsement is sought by national presidential candidates

Schmett registered with the DOJ as an agent of the kingdom; Schmett & Associates received $101,500 for services rendered

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Saudi Arabia spent millions trying to keep 9/11 families and survivors from presenting evidence against the kingdom

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