Nonilex17h ago

Exclusive: Chinese business hired lobbying firm with ties to #DonJr, then scored a win in Washington

A lobbying firm led by one of Donald Trump Jr.'s hunting buddies helped a Chinese company make its case to a #US #NationalSecurity watchdog, public filings show.

#Trump #law #China #FARA #emoluments #SelfDealing #corruption
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinese-firm-hired-lobbyists-with-ties-don-jr-then-scored-win-washington-2026-04-09/?utm_source=braze&utm_medium=notifications&utm_campaign=2025_engagement

Show threadNonilex

The case involved a #US startup that was seeking to have the Chinese firm removed as one of its investors. The watchdog rejected the US firm's request for a #NationalSecurity review of the Chinese firm's investment, according to a document seen by Reuters, handing a rare win to a Chinese company in ​Washington. The decision has not previously been reported.

#Trump #law #China #FARA #emoluments #SelfDealing #corruption

Apr 10 at 5:39amWeb
Show threadNonilex17h ago

The lobbying firm, Checkmate, helped a lawyer for China's Grand Pharmaceutical Group clinch a meeting with the head of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U#S in early January, according to two people familiar with the matter. During the meeting, ‌the lawyer argued that the case was a commercial disagreement with no #NationalSecurity implications, one of the people said.

#Trump #law #China #FARA #emoluments #SelfDealing #corruption

Show threadNonilex17h ago

At the end of January, the watchdog rejected the filing by Minnesota-based startup FastWave for reasons unrelated to #NationalSecurity, effectively siding with the Chinese firm, according to a document seen by Reuters.

FastWave, which had been granted calls with CFIUS staffers rather than senior officials that month, has been brought to the brink of bankruptcy, the company told CFIUS.

#Trump #law #NationalSecurity #China #FARA #emoluments #SelfDealing #corruption

Show threadNonilex17h ago

…Six #China experts & 3 Democratic lawmakers who were informed of the situation by Reuters said the case raised concerns that Chinese companies could gain #influence over the #Trump admin by ​hiring lobbyists close to his orbit.

Michael Sobolik, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank, said that if a Chinese company can lobby the US govt into siding with it against a US firm on a #NationalSecurity matter, "that is the ⁠height of the swamp."

#law #corruption

Show threadNonilex16h ago

Democratic Senator #ElizabethWarren said it was "troubling that Chinese companies are hiring Trump-connected lobbyists to influence independent decisions about American #NationalSecurity," calling for answers on who made the decisions & what CFIUS's risk assessments of the deal found.

#Trump #law #China #FARA #emoluments #SelfDealing #corruption

Show threadFurballsNHairballs9h ago
@Nonilex
I'll bet the risk assessment is in someone's shredder.