Posted on 01/22/2021 3:35:25 PM PST by semimojo
The lobbying firm run by Trump ally Matt Schlapp brought in $750,000 in the final two weeks of 2020 from a former top Trump fundraiser and convicted fraudster who retained Schlapp to lobby — unsuccessfully — for a presidential pardon.
Why it matters: The substantial sum that the former fundraiser, Georgia's Parker "Pete" Petit, paid to Schlapp's Cove Strategies shows how valuable connections to Donald Trump were in his final days in office for wealthy felons seeking clemency from the outgoing president.
What's new: Lobbying disclosure records filed on Thursday said Schlapp, a close informal Trump adviser, worked on a "request for a pardon and other public policy issues relating to criminal justice."
The disclosure filing, which covered the last two weeks of 2020, said that Schlapp had contacted just one government office on Petit's behalf: the Executive Office of the President.
Petit was not on the list of the nearly 150 pardons and commutations that the White House released during Trump's final days in office.
Schlapp didn't respond to inquiries about the other policy work he reported performing on the account. The backstory: Petit, a former Atlanta health care executive, co-chaired the Trump campaign's 2016 fundraising operation in Georgia.
A federal court convicted him of securities fraud in November. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Be smart: A host of federal convicts retained lobbyists to try to win clemency from Trump in his final days. But even the most lucrative lobbying contracts didn't guarantee success.
Nobody mentions the money Hillary’s brothers got for pushing pardons from their brother-in-law Bill Clinton. Nor the $500,000 the Clinton Library got from Denise Rich for securing a pardon for her ex-husband, fugitive Marc Rich.
“The lobbying firm run by Trump ally Matt Schlapp brought in $750,000 in the final two weeks of 2020 from a former top Trump fundraiser and convicted fraudster who retained Schlapp to lobby — unsuccessfully — for a presidential pardon.”
A lobbying firm got paid to lobby?
The horror.
It’s not really anyone’s business what these people pay to
try and obtain a pardon, unless the funds are going directly
to an improper person.
The President
A member of his family
Some close friend inappropriately
People have a right to representation.
Absolutely. And you can buy your way out of the justice system unless you're an average Joe.
“ People have a right to representation.”
Not if they’re connected to Donald Trump in any way shape or form. Not anymore. None if Nancy Pelosi has her way.
Generally...
Seems that would be ripe territory for a Civil Rights lawsuit.
This guy wanted to run for Senate?
Did Trump get any of the money? No. Did Trump grant the requested pardon? No. What’s the bid deal?
Beats me...
Per Kohn Kirakou (sp?) the requested rate from Team Rudy for a pardon was $2M. IIRC that was the rate back in the Clinton era too.
So what?
Probably not. Just his ally.
3 decades ago. Plus they looked into it. The rich pardon particularly. This criminal is today.
Seriously? I just 'love' double standards ... What a delinquent 'ho'... spreading the Weaver methods...
Surprised the swamp rate hasn't gone up. I guess inflation really is in check.
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