Why should anyone be surprised?
Posted on 06/29/2021 9:46:20 AM PDT by bitt
Former lawmakers have registered as foreign agents for the U.S. branch of Hikvision, the maker of cameras used to monitor Uyghur Muslims in China’s detention camps.
The Chinese tech giant Hikvision, accused of helping the Chinese government’s campaign against the Uyghur minority, has turned to former members of Congress to lobby on its behalf as the United States imposes a series of measures limiting its ability to do business with American companies and investors. Former U.S. representative Anthony “Toby” Moffett (D-Conn.), who served eight years in the House until 1983 and now works at the prominent Washington firm Mercury Public Affairs, will lobby for Hikvision’s U.S. subsidiary on issues related to the National Defense Authorization Act and engage with members of the State, Treasury and Commerce departments, according to a Foreign Agents Registration Act filing made public Thursday. Moffett will join former senator David Vitter (R-La.) in lobbying for a company racing to defend itself in Washington amid questions over its links to Chinese government surveillance and oppression. Another former senator, Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), registered to lobby for the company, but withdrew from that representation in January amid public criticism.
Earlier this month, the Biden administration banned Americans from investing in the company, citing its links to the Chinese military. Hikvision, whose largest shareholder is owned by the Chinese government, faces another critical threat from U.S. regulators who are considering whether to issue a nationwide ban on purchases of the firm’s equipment. “It’s alarming that Hikvision has repeatedly bought influence from former members of Congress while being controlled by the People’s Republic of China government,” said Don Maye, head of operations at the surveillance research group IPVM.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Anthony “Toby” Moffett (D-Conn.)
former senator David Vitter (R-La.)
former senator, Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), registered to lobby for the company, but withdrew from that representation in January amid public criticism.
Why should anyone be surprised?
Getting elected is a life path. The end goal is wealth and power.
Essentially, getting elected is a deed to a gold mine.. if you’re lucky, you get promoted to higher positions in gubamint or prestigious institutions or best deal is lobbyist for a foreign interest, friendly or otherwise.
The amounts of dough available to anyone and everyone is ridiculous.
Big Gubamint is bloated beyond belief.
Between baseline budgets and pipe dream legislation, if you have any abilities at all, your fortune awaits.
I'm surprised that still works anymore. Especially since 2 of them are retired.
Burn it to the ground. They have insurance.
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