Former US senator Joe Lieberman’s work for China’s ZTE makes him a foreign agent, complaint says
- Joe Lieberman’s firm says it doesn’t advocate on behalf of ZTE, while claiming an exemption that means lobbyists do not have to register as foreign agents
- The Campaign Legal Centre, which filed a complaint about Lieberman’s ZTE work, says he ‘can’t have it both ways’
Former US senator Joe Lieberman should register as a foreign agent for his work on behalf of Chinese telecommunications company ZTE, according to a complaint filed on Tuesday with the Justice Department by the Campaign Legal Centre.
Lieberman filed as a lobbyist last month for ZTE, which is facing scrutiny over alleged national security threats its products pose to the US. Under federal law, lobbyists for foreign commercial clients are exempted from the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA.
Lieberman is conducting a study of what concerns members of Congress, the executive branch and US businesses have about national security risks that ZTE’s products may pose, according to a disclosure form filed by the firm.
However, Lieberman’s firm won’t advocate on behalf of ZTE, according to the disclosure. That means he’s not actually a lobbyist, and should register as a foreign agent, according to the Campaign Legal Centre’s complaint.
US Democrat slams ex-senator over ‘lobbying’ gig for ZTE
“He can’t have it both ways,” said Brendan Fischer, director of federal reform for the Campaign Legal Centre, a Washington-based non-profit that advocates for limiting the role of money in politics. “He can’t claim to not be engaging in lobbying while taking advantage of the exception for lobbyists.”
