Document Exposes Inconsistent Disclosure of Saudi Hand in Campaign Against JASTA

September 26, 2017March 5, 2021 editor28pages 9/11, Cole Azare, Eric Eisenhammer, FARA, informational materials, Jason Johns, JASTA, lobbying, lobbyists, Lydia Dennett, Project on Government Oversight, Qorvis, Saudi Arabia, The Real Impact of JASTA

Flyer filed with DOJ included required disclosure of Saudi sponsorship; version presented to military veterans did not

By Brian P. McGlinchey

28Pages.org has uncovered a striking example of lobbyists’ selective disclosure of Saudi Arabia’s sponsorship of their work against a law that enables 9/11 victims to sue the kingdom for its alleged support of the al Qaeda hijackers.

Specifically, lobbyists used two versions of a flyer that criticized the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA): An early version filed with the Department of Justice included a required disclosure of Saudi Arabia’s sponsorship; a version later presented to military veterans did not. Continue reading →

Senate Campaign Faces Scrutiny of Strategist’s Work for Saudis

September 14, 2017March 5, 2021 editor28pages 9/11, American Legion, Boston Herald, Geoff Diehl, Holly Robichaud, JASTA, lobbyists, Massachusetts, Qorvis, Saudi Arabia, Senate, VFW

Boston Herald spotlights Holly Robichaud’s engagement in Saudi effort to amend Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act

On defensive, Robichaud advances misleading argument about JASTA, makes false claim about VFW, American Legion stances

By Brian P. McGlinchey

A U.S. Senate campaign faces controversy after the Boston Herald published a story on a key strategist’s participation in a Saudi lobbying campaign against the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA).

Massachusetts state representative Geoffrey Diehl, who is running for the 2018 Republican nomination to oppose incumbent senator Elizabeth Warren, hired Holly Robichaud to serve as a campaign strategist. 28Pages.org previously reported that Robichaud, a political consultant and columnist for the Boston Herald, registered in October 2016 as an agent of the Saudi government. 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 →

Cornyn Condemns Tactics Saudis Used Against 9/11 Justice Law

July 26, 2017March 5, 2021 editor28pages 9/11, Capitol Media Group, Dianne Feinstein, FARA, Foreign Agents Registration Act, Jason Johns, JASTA, John Cornyn, lobbying, lobbyists, Qorvis MSLGROUP, Saudi Arabia, Scott Wheeler, video

“This kind of conduct should gall every member of the Senate”

By Brian P. McGlinchey

In a high-profile hearing today, Senator John Cornyn condemned Saudi lobbyists for exploiting U.S. military veterans in their campaign to weaken a law enabling 9/11 family members and survivors to sue the kingdom for its alleged support of the attacks. 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 →

Flyer filed with DOJ included required disclosure of Saudi sponsorship; version presented to military veterans did not

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Boston Herald spotlights Holly Robichaud’s engagement in Saudi effort to amend Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act

On defensive, Robichaud advances misleading argument about JASTA, makes false claim about VFW, American Legion stances

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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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“This kind of conduct should gall every member of the Senate”

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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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