What Ukraine’s lobbyists have been up to – Politico

With Daniel Lippman

WHAT UKRAINES LOBBYISTS IN WASHINGTON HAVE BEEN UP TO: As lobbyists on K Street rushed to drop newly sanctioned clients in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine, including the developers and financial partners of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, one of Ukraines top lobbyists in the nations capital has been working the Hill to lay the groundwork for sanctions on Russias energy sector, Yorktown Solutions Daniel Vajdich, who represents Ukraines oil and gas lobby, told PI.

After spearheading a fierce lobbying campaign for Washington to reimpose sanctions on Nord Stream 2, Vajdich, who also represents the Ukrainian nonprofit Civil Movement for a Just Ukraine, said in an interview that his current focus includes creating an infrastructure in terms of financial sanctions against Russian financial institutions, including the central bank, that will allow us to go after the Russian energy industry. The U.S. has thus far steered clear of touching Russian energy interests, and White House press secretary Jen Psaki again appeared hesitant in a news briefing this afternoon, reiterating that we have not taken some steps on energy sanctions in part because we weigh their potential impact on the global markets and the American people. That doesn't mean they're off the table, she added.

Vajdich, a former adviser to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), said that his firm is seeking to counter those concerns. Were in the process of explaining to folks how the consequences of this can be minimized," he said, adding that hes working with several of the same people responsible for crafting the Trump administrations crippling sanctions on Irans oil and gas industry.

WHAT WAS ON THE CD: Meanwhile Andrew Mac, a partner in the Washington office of the Ukrainian law firm Asters who is registered as a foreign agent working as an unpaid adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has been making the media rounds, according to recent documents filed with the Justice Department.

On Friday, DOJ posted a notice of informational materials that were filed by Mac on behalf of Zelenskyy the previous day on a CD, which the document noted would be available for review at the FARA Registration Units public office in D.C. When PI inquired about doing so, your host was told that the office was currently closed to the public, and that the unit would be meeting to determine how to allow access to the CDs contents.

After acquiring an external CD drive over the weekend just in case, DOJ spokesperson Wyn Hornbuckle this afternoon shared with PI that the CD contained an audio recording from a radio broadcast and we were able to find the broadcast in podcast form from a radio station in Peoria, IL, which is available at this link.

In the interview with host Craig Collins apparently hours before hostilities broke out, Mac explains that as an adviser to Zelenskyy on relationships in the U.S., I've been very active in the last few months as this crisis has unfolded. Much of the interview describes the historical backdrop of Russian President Vladimir Putins recognition of the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.

Mac says that, if God forbid we had an all out war between Russia and Ukraine, it would be devastating for Ukraine, but warns also that Ukraine is very much a Second Amendment type of place, and that we would see definitely millions of Ukrainians taking up arms ordinary citizens in the event of a Russian invasion.

Mac in the interview also appeared to throw some shade at the Wests pre-invasion strategy. I think many people were hoping that the steps the United States has taken to publicly tell the world about Russian plans in Ukraine and we've seen that on a daily basis for months now would deter Putin, he argued. Obviously, he doesn't seem very deterred. Mac also added that arguably the time for pre-invasion deterrents had passed, while estimating his level of concern at a 10 out of 10.

Separate documents show that Mac participated in an interview with the Reuters Global Market Forum, warning that a Ukrainian default is inevitable if the fighting there lasts more than a few weeks.

Good afternoon and welcome to PI. Send lobbying tips and gossip: [emailprotected]. And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.

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A GLIMPSE AT FARAS FUTURE?: Twitter announced this afternoon that it would begin adding labels to and reducing the visibility of tweets containing content from Russian state-affiliated media outlets such as RT and Sputnik, both of which have been ordered by the Justice Department to register under FARA in recent years.

The announcement quickly sparked a discussion among FARA experts on the platform who noted the labels could serve as a template for the Justice Department as it weighs whether and how to expand FARAs conspicuous statement disclosure requirements for materials disseminated by foreign agents to digital and social media platforms.

This is exactly how #FARA labeling requirements could be updated to identify content being spread by registered foreign agents, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecrafts Ben Freeman wrote in a tweet applauding Twitters move.

Meanwhile David Laufman, a partner at Wiggin and Dana who co-authored an American Bar Association report last year laying out how to fix the Nazi-era statute, and Sandler Reiff Lamb Rosenstein & Birkenstocks Josh Rosenstein, who also praised Twitters announcement in light of the forthcoming FARA updates, quibbled over whether DOJ requirements should disclose the foreign principal in question as well as the foreign agent distributing content. Ideally both, but in this case Id settle for the principal, Laufman responded.

TRAVEL, BUSINESS GROUPS PRESS BIDEN TO DITCH MASKS ON PLANES: The airline industry Friday petitioned the White House to scrap the federal requirement that people wear masks at airports and on board aircraft once it expires next month, a request that came on the same day that the CDC eased its mask wearing guidance for other parts of American life, POLITICOs Oriana Pawlyk reports.

In a letter to White House Covid-19 czar Jeffrey Zients, Airlines for America, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Travel Association urged the Biden administration to shift away from pandemic-era travel advisories, requirements and restrictions toward endemic-focused policies of a new normal that enable travel to resume fully, freely and safely.

The groups added that when the TSAs current mandate for wearing masks on planes and in airports expires on March 18, the administration should use this date as a decision point for either repealing or announcing a plan and timeline to repeal the federal mask mandate within the subsequent 90 days.

The request came hours after the CDC announced that Americans can stop wearing masks, even indoors, especially if individuals are healthy and vaccinated. Given travels slow economic recovery, and in light of the improved public health metrics in the U.S. and medical advancements to prevent the worst outcomes of COVID-19, we encourage the Administration to immediately remove travel requirements that no longer fit with the current environment and to set clear timelines and metrics for when others will be lifted, the groups wrote.

Their letter included a series of policy recommendations such as scrapping a policy requiring pre-departure testing for vaccinated individuals traveling to the United States and ditching messaging that could discourage travel. The trade associations also asked the administration to develop benchmarks and timelines for a pathway to the new normal that repeals pandemic-focused travel restrictions by June 1.

WALL STREET LOBBIES AGAINST BOOTING RUSSIA FROM SWIFT: Some of Wall Streets largest banks told lawmakers and the Biden administration that kicking Russia off the SWIFT financial-messaging system would have far-reaching fallout that could hurt the global economy and undermine the purpose of the penalties, Bloombergs Daniel Flatley, Katherine Doherty and Hannah Levitt report, citing people familiar with the matter.

Firms including JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup Inc. suggested Washington stick with other types of sanctions to punish Russia for invading Ukraine, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private talks. Other banks with less international exposure were more receptive to the idea, telling officials that it would be a manageable step. Representatives from the banks declined to comment.

Opponents of the idea passed along a warning: Booting Russia from the critical global system which handles 42 million messages a day and serves as a lifeline to some of the worlds biggest financial institutions could backfire, sending inflation higher, pushing Russia closer to China and shielding financial transactions from scrutiny by the West. It might also encourage the development of a SWIFT alternative that could eventually damage the supremacy of the U.S. dollar.

Garrett Levin has renewed his contract as president and chief executive at the Digital Media Association, which represents major music streaming services like Amazon, Apple, Pandora, Spotify, and YouTube, for an additional three years. DiMA also promoted Sally Rose Larson to vice president of government relations and public affairs and tapped Lauren Danzy to serve as director for external affairs and industry relations.

Chris Rinkus has joined education technology company GoGuardian to lead their government affairs in D.C. He was previously deputy assistant secretary at the Education Department.

Forbes Tate Partners is adding Michael Pepe as a grassroots advocacy senior vice president, Taylor Mason as a state government relations vice president, and Eliza Green as an analyst on the public affairs team. Pepe most recently was senior director of communications at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Mason most recently was executive director of the Rare Disease Company Coalition, and is a David Young alum.

Tom Davis has joined the Financial Technology Association as vice president of membership and development. He was most recently global membership director for the Young Presidents Organization.

Jamie Geller is joining Purple Strategies as a senior director and communications lead. She spent seven years on the Hill, most recently as communications director for Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

Rachael Hartford is joining Precision Strategies as associate vice president for communications. She previously was deputy communications director for Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).

Ryan Diffley is now senior manager at Troutman Pepper Strategies. He previously was legislative assistant for Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.).

Annaliese Yukawa will be legislative assistant/professional staff member for House Oversight Government Operations Subcommittee Chair Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), per Playbook. She previously was senior policy analyst with Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas.

Targeted Victory is launching a crypto practice, led by Josh Arnold. Arnold previously was deputy chief of staff for Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).

Chris DAloia is now D.C. press secretary for Rep. Josh Gottheimers (D-N.J.), Huddle reports. He was most recently a senior account executive at LEVICK.

Everett Eissenstat will be chair of North America and global trade lead at Edelman Global Advisory, Playbook reports. He most recently was senior vice president of global public policy at General Motors, and is a Trump White House alum.

HAWLEY SHOW-ME STRONG COMMITTEE (Sen. Josh Hawley, Fighting for Missouri PAC, Rep. Vicky Hartzler)Jake Auchincloss Victory Fund (Rep. Jake Auchincloss, MA 4 Dems PAC)JOHN GIBBS GREAT LAKES COMMITTEE (John Gibbs for Congress, Inc., THE GREAT LAKES LEADERSHIP PAC)JOHN JAMES FOR MICHIGAN (John James for Congress, Inc., Mission First People Always PAC)

Crypto Foundation of America (PAC)THE GREAT LAKES LEADERSHIP PAC (Leadership PAC: John Gibbs)Healthy Louisiana PAC (PAC)MICHIGAN CONSERVATIVE ACTION (Super PAC)MLK PAC (Super PAC)Tyo Jerkins for Congress (Super PAC)Voting Genie LLC (Super PAC)

Baker & Hostetler LLP: The Freedom InitiativeBgr Government Affairs: Eos Defense Systems USa, Inc.Bgr Government Affairs: Iranian American Community Of Northern CaliforniaBgr Government Affairs: Targa ResourcesBrownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Greenidge Generation Holdings Inc.Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Running TideClyburn Consulting, LLC: National Healthy Start AssociationCornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: California Walnut CommissionFarragut Partners LLP: Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc.Farragut Partners LLP: Pharmaceutical Research And Manufacturers Of AmericaFoley & Lardner LLP: Haymarket Media, Inc.Hogan Lovells US LLP: Mercedes-Benz USa, LLCHolland & Knight LLP: Emd Serono, Inc.Lobbyit.Com: Forest Stewardship Council United StatesSteptoe & Johnson LLP: International Dairy Foods AssociationStrategies 360: Golden Valley Electric AssociationTownsend Public Affairs: Golden State Natural Resources, Inc.

Roberti Global (Fka Roberti White, LLC): Nord Stream 2 AgVenable LLP: Sberbank Cib USa, Inc.

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What Ukraine's lobbyists have been up to - Politico