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Presented by REAL SOLUTIONS®, a community safety program of the firearm industry.: Delivered daily, Influence gives you a comprehensive rundown and analysis of all lobby hires and news on K Street. | | | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | Presented by REAL SOLUTIONS®, a community safety program of the firearm industry. | With Daniel Lippman | | | | TUNE IN TO GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS: Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded over the past year amid a global pandemic. This podcast helps to identify and understand the impediments to smart policymaking. Subscribe and start listening today. | | | | | FARA VERDICTS REINSTATED IN RAFIEKIAN TURKEY LOBBYING CASE: A federal appeals court has reinstated a pair of guilty verdicts against Bijan Rafiekian, a business partner of former national security adviser Michael Flynn , for failing to register as a foreign agent of Turkey as part of the duo’s lobbying during the 2016 election. — “A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a judge’s ruling last year” that tossed out the jury’s verdicts against Rafiekian, “a California businessman who worked with Flynn on a lobbying and public relations campaign targeting a longtime opponent of the Turkish government, Fethullah Gulen,” POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein writes. — This morning’s unanimous decision “said U.S. District Court Judge Anthony Trenga erred by rejecting the jury’s verdicts and by concluding that his own rulings may have led jurors to base their decision on emails he admitted at the trial only for a limited purpose,” and found that “circumstantial evidence and reasonable inferences” may be enough to secure a conviction against an accused foreign agent. Absent intervention from the full bench of the appeals court at Rafiekian’s request, or review at the Supreme Court, his case will head back to Trenga for sentencing. — The appeals court decision is “encouraging” for future prosecution of foreign agent cases, said Tom Spulak, an attorney at King & Spalding who advises clients on FARA matters. “If I'm the Justice Department, I'm very happy today,” he added in an interview. “And I think it further strengthens the department's zeal in going forward” with its more aggressive pursuit of violations of the previously sleepy law. — Brandon Van Grack, who helmed DOJ’s FARA unit before joining the law firm Morrison & Foerster earlier this year, wrote in a pair of tweets that the ruling could signal more violations charged under Section 951, which is similar to FARA but relates specifically to being an agent of a foreign government versus, more broadly, a foreign entity. — Josh also points out that today’s decision takes issue with prosecutors’ broad definition of the term “agent” in the law, though Spulak argued that “I wouldn't read a whole lot into that,” likening prosecutors’ assertion to a hypothetical. Good afternoon and welcome to PI. Send tips: coprysko@politico.com. And follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko . | | | | A message from REAL SOLUTIONS®, a community safety program of the firearm industry. The firearm industry is creating safer communities through partnerships with law enforcement, elected officials, and community leaders. Our REAL SOLUTIONS® programs have distributed more than 40 million free gun locks to promote secure storage, strengthened the FBI background check system to keep guns out of the wrong hands, and provided thousands of suicide prevention toolkits in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. These are true gun safety programs. Make a difference at NSSFRealSolutions.org. | | | WALDEN SIGNS FOX: Former Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) has signed his first client as part of his new consulting venture launched last month, Alpine Advisors DC. The former House Energy and Commerce ranking member will advise senior executives at Fox Corp., which includes Rupert Murdoch’s broadcast, news and sports broadcasting properties. “From policy to politics, few people possess the experience and expertise of Greg Walden,” Danny O’Brien, Fox’s top lobbyist (and a former Joe Biden aide) said in a statement. “FOX is extremely pleased to be the beneficiary of his advice and counsel.” ALSTON & BIRD EXPANDS HEALTH PRACTICE: James Paluskiewicz, who most recently served as chief Republican health counsel for Energy & Commerce’s Health Subcommittee, has left the Hill to join Alston & Bird’s health care practice as a senior policy adviser. The firm also announced a strategic partnership with Neleen Rubin, who currently runs Rubin Health Policy Consulting and is a past Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee’s health policy team. BUSINESS LEADERS PITCH WHITE HOUSE ON INFRASTRUCTURE: “Executives from Wall Street, major corporations and private equity firms are engaging with the White House and officials in the Transportation Department about how to pay for President Joe Biden’s eventual infrastructure bill,” CNBC’s Brian Schwartz reports. — “Former Sen. Blanche Lincoln , D-Ark., currently leads the RATE Coalition, which advocates against raising the corporate tax rate,” and recently sent the White House a letter arguing that doing so could harm the economic recovery, while finance execs plan to propose “some form of a large-scale private-public partnership … that could allow private equity firms to act as the vehicles for financing some of the larger and more expensive projects.” — “Other businesses and corporate-friendly organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce , have pitched various means of paying for the infrastructure plan that go beyond private-public partnerships, such as raising the gas tax.” ANNALS OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE: “The 2020 election saw more than $1 billion in ‘dark money’ spending at the federal level, a massive sum driven by an explosion of secret donations boosting Democrats in a historically expensive cycle,” according to the Center for Responsive Politics’ Anna Massoglia and Karl Evers-Hillstrom . The total “includes a whopping $660 million in donations from opaque political nonprofits and shell companies to outside groups. In 2020, dark money groups preferred to bankroll closely-tied super PACs rather than spend the money themselves — politically active nonprofits that do not disclose their donors reported roughly $88 million in direct election spending to the Federal Election Commission. The remainder of the total is made up of spending on ‘issue ads’ targeting candidates online and on the airwaves.” | | | | GET DAILY REGULATORY UPDATES STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX: AgencyIQ’s daily newsletter, FDA Today, provides actionable and insightful explanations of the latest FDA developments impacting the life sciences industry. Sign up for free today. | | | | | FLY-IN SZN: The U.S. Travel Association held its annual fly-in Wednesday, with 450 industry leaders meeting virtually with more than 300 offices on the Hill, including Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Reps. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Andy Levin (D-Mich.), Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), Billy Long (R-Mo.), Rodney Davis (D-Ill.), Ben Cline (R-Va.), Lou Correa (D-Calif.) and Bill Foster (D-Ill.). — The fly-in was timed to the release of an analysis from the trade organization showing travel spending dropped nearly half a trillion dollars, or 42 percent, in 2020 due to the pandemic. Travel leaders used the fly-in to press lawmakers to extend the deadline for applying to the Paycheck Protection Program, pass a package of tax provisions to incentivize a return to travel, improve the country’s standing with international travelers and restore business travel and events. — The National Photonics Initiative , a coalition of tech companies, academic research institutions and scientific organizations that support and are active in quantum research and quantum technology, held its virtual fly-in this week as well, with 59 meetings with member offices and industry experts from corporations such as IBM, Honeywell, Google, Microsoft and L3Harris; universities like the University of Maryland, University of Oregon, Duke, University of Colorado, Harvard, SUNY Poly and University of Rochester; and professional societies like SPIE and The Optical Society. The cohort also met with eight members of the House, and is urging lawmakers to support legislation to invest in the industry and promoting the Congressional Optics and Photonics Caucus launched last month. | | | | A message from REAL SOLUTIONS®, a community safety program of the firearm industry.   | | | | | | — Erin Collins is joining Platform Communications as a director. She was previously communications director for Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio). — Grant Couch, a former aide to Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden, has joined Venn Strategies as vice president in its health practice. Couch was most recently senior director of government relations for the National MS Society and previously worked for the American Medical Group Association. Venn has also added Hannah Giltner as senior associate and Jordan Kramer and Macrae Sharp, who previously interned in then-Sen. Kamala Harris’ office, as client services associates. — David Richey joined Scarlet Oak Strategies as managing director for the western U.S., and Herb Tyson joined in February as senior adviser for state government affairs. Richey was most recently senior vice president at Strategies 360 while Tyson was most recently vice president of global public policy for the International Council of Shopping Centers. — Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has named Erin Eiselein and Emily Felder co-chairs of its health care group. Eiselein is based in the firm’s Denver office, and Felder is based in the D.C. office. — Cynthia Deitle is joining Facebook as director and associate counsel for civil rights. Irma Palmer also joined Facebook recently as a policy communications manager for content and civil rights. Deitle previously was director of civil rights reform at the Matthew Shepard Foundation and spent more than two decades as an FBI special agent focused on hate crimes. — Alexander Okuliar, former deputy assistant attorney general for civil enforcement in the Justice Department’s antitrust division (and who was involved in the Google antitrust probe), has joined the law firm Morrison & Foerster as a partner in its antitrust practice in Washington, per Morning Tech. | | | Blackburn Victory Fund (Blackburn, Making a Responsible Stand for Households in America PAC, NRSC) | | | AL Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
American Veterans Relief Program, Inc (Hybrid PAC)
AZ Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
CA Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
CO Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
Conservative PAC of America (Super PAC)
GA Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
Get Money Out of Politics (Super PAC)
MD Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
NC Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
NH Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
No Vote Left Behind PAC (PAC)
NV Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
OH Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
OR Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
PA Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
SIG SAUER, Inc. Political Action Committee (aka 'SIG SAUER PAC') (PAC)
Southern Blue USA (Super PAC)
U.S. CONCEALED CARRY ASSOCIATION FOR SAVING LIVES (Super PAC)
WA Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
WIN AMERICA PAC (Hybrid PAC) | | New Lobbying Registrations | | Alpine Group Partners, LLC.: Inseparable Action, Inc.
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz /The Daschle Group: Refuah Health Center, Inc.
Blank Rome Government Relations: Mission 1st Group, Inc.
Blue Marble Strategy LLC: Last Chance For Animals
Brody Group L.L.C. Public Affairs: Peak Nano
Brody Group L.L.C. Public Affairs: United Protective Technolgies
Center For Employment Opportunities, Inc.: Center For Employment Opportunities, Inc.
Desimone Consulting, LLC: Seattle Aquarium
Focus Dc LLC: Crystallex
Frost Brown Todd LLC: Microvote
Fti Government Affairs: Community Service Society Of New York (Css)
Harbinger Strategies, LLC: Employment Policies Institute
Jst Strategies LLC (Formerly Jochum Shore & Trossevin Pc): All Aboard America! Holdings, Inc.
Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas, Inc.: International Paper
Monument Advocacy: Security Industry Association
Squire Patton Boggs: Symx Holdings
Strategies 360: Service Employees International Union 775 (Seiu 775)
Thegroup Dc, LLC: Allegis, Redwood, Maxim Public Affairs, LLC
Thompson Coburn LLP: Airlinemporium, A Division Of Gopicnic
Venn Strategies, LLC: Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Venn Strategies, LLC: Axio
Venn Strategies, LLC: Rover Diagnostics
Venn Strategies, LLC: Sc Johnson & Sons, Inc.
Venn Strategies, LLC: Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner LLP
Venn Strategies, LLC: The Water Design Build Council | | New Lobbying Terminations | | Alpine Group Partners, LLC.: Louisiana Flood Risk Coalition
Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Federal Association For Insurance Reform
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP: Evolve Vacation Rental
Dorsey & Whitney LLP: Inspired Spine
Enterprise Products Company (Formerly Known As Epco, Inc.): Enterprise Products Company (Formerly Known As Epco Inc )
Policy Navigation Group: Keller & Heckman On Behalf Of Suncoke Energy, Inc.
Tiber Creek Health Strategies, Inc.: Peck Madigan Jones (On Behalf Of Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
Tiber Creek Health Strategies, Inc.: Peck Madigan Jones (On Behalf Of Association For Clinical Oncology)
| | | | A message from REAL SOLUTIONS®, a community safety program of the firearm industry. Partnerships with over 15,000 law enforcement agencies. Distribution of more than 40 million free firearm safety kits. A 266% increase in disqualifying records submitted to the FBI background check system. These are just a few of the success metrics behind the firearm industry’s REAL SOLUTIONS® programs. For decades, the firearm industry has been creating safer communities through partnerships with law enforcement, elected officials, and community leaders. We’re proud to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and members of Congress, regardless of political stripe to create safer communities. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: to keep guns out of the wrong hands. The proven-effective REAL SOLUTIONS® programs promote true gun safety that everyone should be able to rally behind and support. Let’s work together at NSSFRealSolutions.org. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
