Saudi Arabia

DOJ Ignores Allegations of Saudi Lobbying Misconduct

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U.S. military veterans say Qorvis Communications tricked them into unknowingly lobbying on behalf of Saudi Arabia

Campaign against law enabling 9/11 victims to sue kingdom used unregistered agents, failed to provide required disclosures

By Brian P. McGlinchey

In March 2017, a group of 9/11 families presented the Department of Justice with 17 pages of detailed allegations that Qorvis Communications had, on behalf of Saudi Arabia, conducted a lobbying campaign against the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) characterized by extensive violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Continue reading →

Exclusive: FBI Told Former Agent Not to Help 9/11 Victims Build Case Against Saudi Arabia

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Author of 9/11’s famed “Phoenix Memo” was told White House’s pursuit of warm relations with kingdom comes first

Former Senate intelligence chair Bob Graham calls FBI’s action “a fundamental assault on the principle of democracy”

By Brian P. McGlinchey

Kenneth Williams

A retired FBI counterterrorism agent with a notable role in the story of 9/11 says the FBI’s Office of the General Counsel told him not to cooperate with attorneys representing 9/11 victims in their suit against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia because it could harm U.S.-Saudi relations.

In an exclusive interview with 28Pages.org, Kenneth Williams, author of an ignored July 2001 memo warning that Osama bin Laden may be training pilots in the United States, explains why he has now decided to ignore the FBI’s instructions, Continue reading →

Saudis, Ex-Spies and a DC Socialite: Highlights From Lobbying Firm’s Report to DOJ

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Figure in vet lobbying scandal returns to collect another $79,000; Qorvis rubs elbows with secretive opposition research firm

By Brian P. McGlinchey

Lobbying and public relations firm Qorvis MSLGROUP has filed its latest semiannual disclosure forms with the Department of Justice’s Foreign Agent Registration Act office, covering the period from October 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.

Qorvis plays a central role in the expansive Saudi effort to influence not only U.S. foreign policy and public opinion, but even the American judicial system. Here are some points of interest from the new filing, which Continue reading →

Syracuse NatSec Director Shifts Story on His Work for Saudis

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New DOJ filing reveals Bill Smullen, former chief of staff to Colin Powell, was late in registering with DOJ as a foreign agent

In June, director of Syracuse national security program said he had yet to work for Saudi Arabia—now he says he did so in March

By Brian P. McGlinchey

Bill Smullen

The director of a national security studies program at Syracuse University has given conflicting statements about his work for the Saudi embassy in Washington.

In June, 28Pages.org reported that Bill Smullen had registered with the Department of Justice as an agent of the kingdom for purposes of providing public relations support.

Interviewed last month about the seeming conflict of interest with his duties at Syracuse, where he leads instruction of U.S. national security officials, Smullen repeatedly asserted he Continue reading →

Leaked Emails Suggest Trump Campaign Duplicity on 28 Pages

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Trump publicly supported release of 28 pages on Saudi links to 9/11, but advisors shared inside info on killing of GOP platform plank

Paul Manafort gave news of GOP convention maneuvering to Tom Barrack, who informed UAE’s ambassador

Barrack urged Trump to refrain from making an issue of millions in Saudi money flowing to the Clinton Foundation

By Brian P. McGlinchey

Tom Barrack Speaks at the 2016 GOP Convention

According to leaked emails obtained by Middle East Eye, an unnamed Republican Party figure orchestrated the defeat of a proposed 2016 GOP plank calling for the declassification of 28 pages on Saudi government links to the 9/11 plotters.

That individual then notified Trump presidential campaign manager Paul Manafort of the plank’s defeat and claimed credit for providing instructions to “our political team” to kill it. Continue reading →