The Department of Justice (“DOJ” or “The Department”) recently released a letter, sent to Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and a bipartisan group of Senators a few weeks ago, in which DOJ expressed support for eliminating the Lobbying Disclosure Act (“LDA”) registration exemption to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”).
Continue Reading Department of Justice Reveals Support for Eliminating the LDA Exemption to FARA and Other FARA ReformsSenator Grassley
Sen. Grassley’s Unsuccessful Effort to Pass FARA Reform Legislation Leads to Bipartisan Commitment for Comprehensive Review of the Law
By Robert Kelner & Brian D. Smith on
Posted in Foreign Agents Registration Act
On Wednesday, December 16, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) sought, and failed to achieve, unanimous consent to pass legislation that would have granted significant new powers to the Department of Justice to enforce compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act. In objecting to passage, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said that the…
Continue Reading Sen. Grassley’s Unsuccessful Effort to Pass FARA Reform Legislation Leads to Bipartisan Commitment for Comprehensive Review of the Law
Grassley Legislation Would (Re)Impose FARA Obligations on Private Sector Entities
By Brian D. Smith on
Posted in Foreign Agents Registration Act
With the Foreign Agents Registration Act in the news and public awareness of this formerly obscure statute at an all-time high, Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced legislation last week to revise the statute significantly, including reversing a decision Congress made in 1995 to remove most private sector reporting from FARA…
Continue Reading Grassley Legislation Would (Re)Impose FARA Obligations on Private Sector Entities
Grassley Defends Congressional Oversight; House Democrats Turn to Statutory Oversight Authority
By Robert Kelner, Brian D. Smith & Andrew Garrahan on
Posted in Congressional Investigations
The Trump administration’s efforts to curtail congressional oversight of executive branch agencies by individual Members of Congress, including ranking Democratic Members of Committees, ran into significant opposition from an unlikely source: Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the Republican Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Grassley’s strong reaction is consistent with…
Continue Reading Grassley Defends Congressional Oversight; House Democrats Turn to Statutory Oversight Authority
New Insights on FARA Enforcement Emerge from DOJ Letter to Sen. Grassley
By Zachary G. Parks & Brian D. Smith on
Posted in Foreign Agents Registration Act
In a recent letter to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the Department of Justice offered a rare public glimpse into the enforcement activities of the small unit in the Department that enforces the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Some of the details highlighted in the letter are consistent with observations that we…
Continue Reading New Insights on FARA Enforcement Emerge from DOJ Letter to Sen. Grassley
A Renewed Push Coming for Disclosure of Political Intelligence Gathering?
Posted in Lobbying Compliance
According to a key advocate, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) is preparing to renew his push for legislation aimed at expanding disclosure of political intelligence gathering. Speaking with BNA, Craig Holman of Public Citizen said yesterday (subscription required) that bipartisan legislation will soon be introduced in both the…
Continue Reading A Renewed Push Coming for Disclosure of Political Intelligence Gathering?