Former Trump, Pence allies cash in.
Dozens tied to Trump, Pence
WASHINGTON - Former campaign aides, fundraisers and others with ties to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have attracted dozens of new lobbying clients in Washington, raking in more than $2.2 million in lobbying fees in the first months of the administration, a USA TODAY analysis shows.
Brian Ballard, a longtime Florida lobbyist and a fundraiser for both Trump’s campaign and inaugural committee, appears to lead the pack, signing up 20 federal clients since opening his Washington lobbying operation this year. His company, Ballard Partners, has earned more than $1.1 million in a three-month period, new lobbying reports show.
Ballard is one of more than a dozen White House allies launching new firms, taking jobs in lobbying firms or signing up new clients this year as companies and others look for ways to shape policy in the Trump administration.
In a statement, the White House said Trump had a “great number of highly talented people working on his campaign. It isn’t a surprise those who did not choose to join the administration are highly successful in whatever endeavor they undertake.”
“There is no legal restriction from former campaign aides having positive relationships inside and outside the White House,” the statement said.
Ballard’s federal clients include the private prison firm GEO Group, which recently won a $110 million federal contract to build the first immigration-detention facility of the Trump administration.
In addition, Ballard’s firm has landed lucrative deals to represent two foreign interests — the ruling Socialist Party of Albania and the Dominican Republic. His firm will collect $900,000 for its one-year contract with the Dominican government and $240,000 over a year from the Albanians, according to documents filed with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ballard said his decision to expand to Washington was driven by his Florida clients, saying ‘Would you please open an office in Washington? We want to understand how the administration operates, how it works, what are the thought processes of the people behind it.’ ”
Ballard would not discuss his work for specific clients or whether he’s had contact with Trump or other administration officials.
Fred Wertheimer, president of the watchdog group Democracy 21, said the lobbying activity by Trump allies demonstrates one “way Washington works to the disadvantage of the American people. You have individuals with close ties to elected officials who cash in on their relationships.”
“This represents the complete opposite of what candidate Trump repeatedly claimed he would do something about,” Wertheimer said of Trump’s repeated campaign pledge to “drain the swamp” in the nation’s capital.