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Presented by Walmart: Delivered daily, Influence gives you a comprehensive rundown and analysis of all lobby hires and news on K Street. | | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | Presented by Walmart | With help from Daniel Lippman PROGRAMMING NOTE: We’ll be off this Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day but will be back in your inboxes on Tuesday, Jan. 16. U.S. STEEL HIRES HOGAN LOVELLS: U.S. Steel has brought on yet another team of K Street heavy hitters as it seeks a green light for the iconic manufacturer’s sale to Japan’s Nippon Steel. The Pittsburgh-based steel giant retained Hogan Lovells earlier this month for help with the deal, according to a newly filed disclosure. — Former Sen. Norm Coleman is among those working on the account for Hogan Lovells, along former House GOP leadership aide Aaron Cutler, former Bob Menendez chief of staff Ivan Zapien, former House Intelligence Committee staff director Tim Bergreen and former Bush White House aide Michael Bell. — Hogan is the third new lobbying firm brought on in recent weeks to help the steel companies mitigate intense political blowback to the acquisition, which was announced last year but has drawn bipartisan scrutiny from Washington. — As PI reported earlier this week, U.S. Steel also added K&L Gates to its stable of outside lobbyists at the beginning of the year, while Nippon Steel tapped Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to plead its case around the nation’s capital. Nippon is also getting back up on the PR side from consulting giant Teneo, while U.S. Steel is working with the PR firm Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher. CLARK PIVOTS: U.S. Chamber of Commerce chief Suzanne Clark took a new tone in her annual “State of American Business” address this morning, painting a more optimistic picture of the business community and issuing a passionate defense of free enterprise amid attacks on corporate America flying from all sides of the political spectrum. — “It's important to remind people of what free enterprise has done, to build support for what free enterprise still must do, which is to find solutions to the greatest issues of our time,” Clark said. — It was a shift from a year ago, when Clark used the occasion to condemn gridlock, hyperpartisanship and general dysfunction in Washington — an atmosphere that by almost any metric has not improved in the months since. — “We've stopped talking about what it means to be pro-business as a country,” Clark argued. “That's a problem. And it's a shame. There are plenty of critics who want to tell you everything that's wrong with capitalism. But the truth is, it's a good news story.” — The Chamber president also used that message to lambaste what Clark said is “a global trend of protectionism, including here in the U.S.” She decried retreats from negotiating new trade deals and tariffs, arguing that working to “reactively repatriate supply chains is to inflict harm on our own economy,” which she argued is “not a zero-sum game.” Happy Thursday and welcome to PI. I’ll be off tomorrow and Tuesday, but you’ll be in the very capable hands of Hailey Fuchs and Marcia Brown. Send tips for tomorrow’s newsletter to Hailey at hfuchs@politico.com and tips for Tuesday’s newsletter to Marcia at marciabrown@politico.com. And be sure to follow us all on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: @Hailey_Fuchs, @Marcia_Brown9 and @caitlinoprysko.
| | A message from Walmart: Walmart is committed to helping our associates live better. With benefits like paid parental leave and opportunities to earn a degree for free, every associate can build the career they want. In fact, Walmart has covered tuition for over 126,000 full- and part-time associates so far. Learn why it pays to work at Walmart. | | | LANGUAGE FROM AI BOT MADE IT INTO MICHEL CLOSING: Language from a novel artificial intelligence program — including a factual error — made it into the defense’s closing statement in hip hop star Pras Michel’s trial on foreign agent and campaign finance charges last year, his new lawyers demonstrated at a hearing on his request for a new trial due to alleged failings by his former legal team, our Josh Gerstein reports. — A member of that team, Alon Israely, earlier bristled at claims the tool, EyeLevel, scripted the closing argument delivered by lead defense attorney David Kenner. But on the witness stand in federal court in Washington this morning, Israely acknowledged that a couple of passages toward the end of the closing closely tracked the answer the system provided when asked for something a passionate defense attorney might say. — “It looks like [Kenner] used it ... in order to be emotive, he used some of it,” Israely said, dismissing the passages as “a very small part” at the end of a 2½-hour presentation. “The last thing the jury heard was not Mr. Kenner’s voice, was it?” replied Michael Dearington, one of the new attorneys for the Fugees member. — Dearington also noted that Kenner’s closing and the AI bot inaccurately attributed some song lyrics in the closing to Michel when they actually came from Diddy. “I think you’re grasping at straws,” Israely said. — When Kenner took the stand later in the day, he acknowledged shortcomings and delays in the defense’s preparation for the trial, but said Michel was responsible because he failed to pay expenses for contractors to do things like assemble binders needed to question witnesses. — The hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who also presided over the jury trial, laid bare the terms of Kenner’s agreement in 2021 to defend Michel. The hip hop artist agreed to pay a flat $750,000 for Kenner’s representation, but was also supposed to pay expenses incurred, the agreement shown in court today said. — Kenner said early last year as the trial date neared he laid out $1.4 million of his money for expenses, something he called “a decision that I’m not sure I should’ve made.” Michel’s new lead lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg, said the arrangements incentivized Kenner to minimize his work. Zeidenberg suggested that Kenner did little work on the case for about a year and that the people who wound up backing him up at the trial had little or no criminal defense experience. — Kenner insisted he was on video conferences about the case four days a week. He acknowledged that some lawyers and assistants on the case didn’t have much prior experience, but said they got added duties like drafting pleadings and arguments after proving their competence. — At the outset of Kenner’s testimony, Zeidenberg said he wanted to treat Kenner as an “adverse witness,” but the veteran defender of Los Angeles-based show-business figures said he has nothing against his former client. — “I am on team Pras,” Kenner, 82, said of his client who is facing sentencing unless the judge throws out the 10 guilty verdicts. “I think Pras should not have been convicted and I hope he gets a new trial.” ANNALS OF SAUSAGE-MAKING: “Two small oil and gas operators testifying before a House subcommittee against EPA’s new methane fee Wednesday had more in common than their vocations: Their prepared remarks were both at least partially co-authored by the same oil lobbyist,” E&E News’ Timothy Cama and Emma Dumain reports. — “While it’s not uncommon for industry representatives to assist with congressional testimony, collaboration between each of the witnesses and the same industry heavyweight could complicate an argument Republicans reiterated throughout the hearing that these witnesses should not be lumped in with the industry monolith so frequently vilified by Democrats.” — “‘These companies are not ‘Big Oil,’ declared Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Materials. ‘On average they employ just 12 people, and this suite of methane regulations will crush these producers.’” — “Johnson presided over a hearing to probe alleged ‘EPA overreach’ in its new rule that would compel producers to upgrade equipment and proactively search for existing methane leaks — mandates critics contend are unworkable.” — In one portion of the hearing, lawmakers “heard from a trio of small oil and gas operators, including Michael Oestmann of Tall City Exploration and Patrick Montalban of Montalban Oil and Gas Operations, who bemoaned the ways in which the new regulations would do more harm than good.” — “Portions of their prepared remarks, which were submitted to the Energy and Commerce Committee and posted online earlier this week, were nearly identical. … The metadata for the PDF files of the testimony posted to the Energy and Commerce Committee website revealed Christopher Kearney, an oil and gas lobbyist with the Ferguson Group, was the ‘author’ of both.”
| | | | POLITICO AT CES® 2024: We are going ALL On at CES 2024 with a special edition of the POLITICO Digital Future Daily newsletter. The CES-focused newsletter will take you inside the most powerful tech event in the world, featuring revolutionary products that cut across verticals, and insights from industry leaders that are shaping the future of innovation. The newsletter runs from Jan. 9-12 and will focus on the public policy-related aspects of the gathering. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage of the show. | | | | | HUAWEI’S ONETIME LOBBYING BEHEMOTH WINDS DOWN: “Huawei Technologies Co., the Chinese wireless equipment maker that spent tens of millions of dollars trying to win over US policymakers only to eventually be blacklisted, has shuttered its in-house lobbying operations in Washington,” Bloomberg’s Todd Shields and Emily Birnbaum report. — “Huawei’s last two registered lobbyists there — Jeff Hogg and Donald Morrissey — left in recent months, Bloomberg News found. The Shenzhen, China-based firm didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.” — “The lobbyists’ recent departures follow an exodus of staff from Huawei’s US operations, and marks a quiet end to the company’s costly, years-long effort to maintain presence in the North American market. The firm reached its peak by supplying small mobile firms across the US even as major carriers shunned it. Rising tensions with Beijing eventually all but banned it.” — “At its height, Huawei had nine lobbying firms on its payroll and a small army of public relations representatives. Executives were known to regularly arrange briefings with congressional offices and major newsrooms. The company spent more than $13 million lobbying in the past ten years, according to federal filings.” — “In a single quarter of 2019, Huawei’s federal lobbying spending totaled $1.8 million, a six-fold increase from the previous year. It spent $3.6 million on lobbying in the US in 2021, according to the filings.” But “by October, the only firm registered as working on Huawei’s behalf was Sidley Austin, which didn’t respond to requests for comment.” — “Huawei itself has filed its own notice that it was terminating lobbying efforts at the Capitol. The company has also ceased operations at offices in Plano, Texas, Trey Smith, executive vice president at CBRE, a real estate services firm that handles leases for the building, said in an email.” WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE: “President Biden was advised last year by the White House Counsel’s office that giving big-dollar donors tours of the Oval Office might raise legal issues and he has since stopped the practice,” people familiar with the matter told Axios’ Hans Nichols and Alex Thompson. — “Biden has been hosting donors inside the White House residence for private meals and briefings, to help energize them and convince them that he has a plan to beat former President Donald Trump. The donor outreach has caused some concern in the White House Counsel's office, which has allowed the lunches and dinners to proceed with clear restrictions, including on where the meals can take place and who can attend.” — “Biden has been known to show the Oval Office to many of his guests, but he decided to stop including an Oval tour for donors early in the campaign after issues were raised by the counsel's office. The exclusive briefings and meals,” which are being organized by Hollywood megadonor and campaign co-chair Jeffrey Katzenberg, are “expected to continue.” — “In order to comply with ethics laws, the donors are not directly solicited for donations and events are required to take place in either the White House map room, the old family dining room or the tennis pavilion on the ground's south lawn.”
| | | | A message from Walmart:   | | | | | — The Vogel Group has promoted Cory Harris to principal and head of its agriculture practice. Harris was previously a director in the firm. — Safiya Ghori-Ahmad has joined APCO Worldwide as the global public affairs lead in Washington. Ghori-Ahmad most recently served as a senior managing director at McLarty Associates. — Nick Ragone is now executive vice president and chief marketing officer at health care company Jefferson. He most recently was executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer at Ascension. — Sam Tatevosyan has been promoted to vice president of federal government relations and global policy for McDonald’s and Melissa Walsh has been named vice president of U.S. state and local government relations and community and public affairs. Walsh most recently was vice president for state government affairs for AbbVie. — Morgan Kull is now digital manager for Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio). She most recently was director of marketing and communications at Grassroots Analytics. — Jeny Maier has been named managing partner at Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP. She most recently was an antitrust partner at the firm. — Adfero has promoted Cassie Boehm to head of the public affairs practice, Maggie Allard to head of the energy and sustainability practice and added Bria Olade and Rae DeBrabander as account supervisors. — Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has promoted Kate Gonzales, Sage Schaftel and Adam Steinmetz to senior policy advisers in the D.C. office.
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| | New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS | | Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: University Of The Pacific Capitol Core Group, Inc.: Creedmoor-Maha Water Supply Corporation Congressional Insights Group L.L.C.: Hamhed, LLC Congressional Insights Group L.L.C.: Parrot Industries Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Apani, Inc. Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Glaxosmithkline Consumer Healthcare Holdings (US) LLC Dba Haleon Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Taylors International Services, Inc. Crowell & Moring LLP: Sonova USa, Inc. Dentons US LLP: Inspired Seedlings Desimone Consulting, LLC: Community Health Center Of Spokane (Chas) Fujifilm Holdings America Corporation: Fujifilm Holdings America Corporation Government Relations Advisors: Curaleaf Inc. Government Relations Advisors: United State Cannabis Council Groom Law Group, Chartered: Renalogic Lobbyit.Com: The Geological Society Of America Nova Labs, Inc.: Nova Labs, Inc. O'Neill And Associates: Cape Cod Chamber Of Commerce Polaris Government Relations, LLC: Sideprize LLC Dba Prizepicks Resilient Partners LLC: America Styrenics (Am Sty) Resilient Partners LLC: Ineos Styrolution America LLC Terrapin Strategy Inc.: Agrodity, Inc. Terrapin Strategy Inc.: Arovia, Inc. Terrapin Strategy Inc.: Taketbl, LLC Thegroup Dc, LLC: Coinbase, Inc. Thegroup Dc, LLC: Minact Inc. Two Branch Strategies: Liberty University Two Branch Strategies: The Independence Fund
| | New Lobbying Terminations | | | Altrius Group, LLC: Guia-Rd (United Group Of Automotive Industries Of The Dominican Republic) Capitol Resource Group: Zero Eyes C. Baker Consulting, Inc.: Shield Ai Dynamic Change Group, LLC: The American Biogas Council (On Behalf Of Smart Policy Group) Holland & Knight LLP: Synopsys, Inc. Hutton Strategies: Eaves Law Firm Leavitt Partners, LLC: Diagnostic Test Work Group (Dtwg) Mr. Andre Hollis: Iec Infrared Systems, LLC Mr. H.R. Bert Pena: American Peanut Shellers Association Mr. H.R. Bert Pena: Premium Peanut Restaurant Brands International US Services LLC: Restaurant Brands International US Services LLC Union Home Mortgage Corp: Union Home Mortgage Corp
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