Menu
Menu
In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
According to reports, Gorr\u00edn sought to leverage Wiles\u2019 political connections to gain access to the Trump administration at a time when US sanctions on Venezuela were escalating. Globovisi\u00f3n\u2019s efforts to expand into the US market faced regulatory hurdles due to sanctions and Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Attorneys for Rivera subpoenaed Wiles to testify about her work at Ballard Partners, where she lobbied on behalf of Globovisi\u00f3n, a Venezuelan television station owned by Gorr\u00edn. Wiles joined Ballard shortly after managing Trump\u2019s presidential campaign in Florida, bringing significant political influence and access to the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to reports, Gorr\u00edn sought to leverage Wiles\u2019 political connections to gain access to the Trump administration at a time when US sanctions on Venezuela were escalating. Globovisi\u00f3n\u2019s efforts to expand into the US market faced regulatory hurdles due to sanctions and Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Attorneys for Rivera subpoenaed Wiles to testify about her work at Ballard Partners, where she lobbied on behalf of Globovisi\u00f3n, a Venezuelan television station owned by Gorr\u00edn. Wiles joined Ballard shortly after managing Trump\u2019s presidential campaign in Florida, bringing significant political influence and access to the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to reports, Gorr\u00edn sought to leverage Wiles\u2019 political connections to gain access to the Trump administration at a time when US sanctions on Venezuela were escalating. Globovisi\u00f3n\u2019s efforts to expand into the US market faced regulatory hurdles due to sanctions and Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Media reports have also alleged that Rivera and Nuhfer sought to normalize relations between the Maduro regime and Washington while Rivera\u2019s consulting firm secured a $50 million lobbying contract with a US subsidiary of Venezuela\u2019s state oil company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Attorneys for Rivera subpoenaed Wiles to testify about her work at Ballard Partners, where she lobbied on behalf of Globovisi\u00f3n, a Venezuelan television station owned by Gorr\u00edn. Wiles joined Ballard shortly after managing Trump\u2019s presidential campaign in Florida, bringing significant political influence and access to the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to reports, Gorr\u00edn sought to leverage Wiles\u2019 political connections to gain access to the Trump administration at a time when US sanctions on Venezuela were escalating. Globovisi\u00f3n\u2019s efforts to expand into the US market faced regulatory hurdles due to sanctions and Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Prosecutors allege Rivera helped conceal Gorr\u00edn\u2019s criminal activities and created fraudulent shell companies to disguise lobbying efforts. He allegedly received more than $5.5 million for his services without registering as a foreign agent, a requirement under US law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Media reports have also alleged that Rivera and Nuhfer sought to normalize relations between the Maduro regime and Washington while Rivera\u2019s consulting firm secured a $50 million lobbying contract with a US subsidiary of Venezuela\u2019s state oil company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Attorneys for Rivera subpoenaed Wiles to testify about her work at Ballard Partners, where she lobbied on behalf of Globovisi\u00f3n, a Venezuelan television station owned by Gorr\u00edn. Wiles joined Ballard shortly after managing Trump\u2019s presidential campaign in Florida, bringing significant political influence and access to the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to reports, Gorr\u00edn sought to leverage Wiles\u2019 political connections to gain access to the Trump administration at a time when US sanctions on Venezuela were escalating. Globovisi\u00f3n\u2019s efforts to expand into the US market faced regulatory hurdles due to sanctions and Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Rivera and Nuhfer are accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act<\/a> (FARA) by secretly lobbying on behalf of sanctioned Venezuelan billionaire Ra\u00fal Gorr\u00edn. According to a December 2024 grand jury indictment, Rivera attempted to influence senior US officials to remove Gorr\u00edn from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors allege Rivera helped conceal Gorr\u00edn\u2019s criminal activities and created fraudulent shell companies to disguise lobbying efforts. He allegedly received more than $5.5 million for his services without registering as a foreign agent, a requirement under US law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Media reports have also alleged that Rivera and Nuhfer sought to normalize relations between the Maduro regime and Washington while Rivera\u2019s consulting firm secured a $50 million lobbying contract with a US subsidiary of Venezuela\u2019s state oil company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Attorneys for Rivera subpoenaed Wiles to testify about her work at Ballard Partners, where she lobbied on behalf of Globovisi\u00f3n, a Venezuelan television station owned by Gorr\u00edn. Wiles joined Ballard shortly after managing Trump\u2019s presidential campaign in Florida, bringing significant political influence and access to the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to reports, Gorr\u00edn sought to leverage Wiles\u2019 political connections to gain access to the Trump administration at a time when US sanctions on Venezuela were escalating. Globovisi\u00f3n\u2019s efforts to expand into the US market faced regulatory hurdles due to sanctions and Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Rivera and Nuhfer are accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act<\/a> (FARA) by secretly lobbying on behalf of sanctioned Venezuelan billionaire Ra\u00fal Gorr\u00edn. According to a December 2024 grand jury indictment, Rivera attempted to influence senior US officials to remove Gorr\u00edn from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors allege Rivera helped conceal Gorr\u00edn\u2019s criminal activities and created fraudulent shell companies to disguise lobbying efforts. He allegedly received more than $5.5 million for his services without registering as a foreign agent, a requirement under US law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Media reports have also alleged that Rivera and Nuhfer sought to normalize relations between the Maduro regime and Washington while Rivera\u2019s consulting firm secured a $50 million lobbying contract with a US subsidiary of Venezuela\u2019s state oil company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Attorneys for Rivera subpoenaed Wiles to testify about her work at Ballard Partners, where she lobbied on behalf of Globovisi\u00f3n, a Venezuelan television station owned by Gorr\u00edn. Wiles joined Ballard shortly after managing Trump\u2019s presidential campaign in Florida, bringing significant political influence and access to the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to reports, Gorr\u00edn sought to leverage Wiles\u2019 political connections to gain access to the Trump administration at a time when US sanctions on Venezuela were escalating. Globovisi\u00f3n\u2019s efforts to expand into the US market faced regulatory hurdles due to sanctions and Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed in a recent court filing that Wiles was subpoenaed in December as a witness in the prosecution of former Republican Congressman David Rivera and his associate Esther Nuhfer. The DOJ filing sought to quash the subpoena, arguing that Wiles has no direct connection to the alleged crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rivera and Nuhfer are accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act<\/a> (FARA) by secretly lobbying on behalf of sanctioned Venezuelan billionaire Ra\u00fal Gorr\u00edn. According to a December 2024 grand jury indictment, Rivera attempted to influence senior US officials to remove Gorr\u00edn from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors allege Rivera helped conceal Gorr\u00edn\u2019s criminal activities and created fraudulent shell companies to disguise lobbying efforts. He allegedly received more than $5.5 million for his services without registering as a foreign agent, a requirement under US law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Media reports have also alleged that Rivera and Nuhfer sought to normalize relations between the Maduro regime and Washington while Rivera\u2019s consulting firm secured a $50 million lobbying contract with a US subsidiary of Venezuela\u2019s state oil company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Attorneys for Rivera subpoenaed Wiles to testify about her work at Ballard Partners, where she lobbied on behalf of Globovisi\u00f3n, a Venezuelan television station owned by Gorr\u00edn. Wiles joined Ballard shortly after managing Trump\u2019s presidential campaign in Florida, bringing significant political influence and access to the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to reports, Gorr\u00edn sought to leverage Wiles\u2019 political connections to gain access to the Trump administration at a time when US sanctions on Venezuela were escalating. Globovisi\u00f3n\u2019s efforts to expand into the US market faced regulatory hurdles due to sanctions and Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
A federal criminal lobbying case has drawn President Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles into its orbit, intensifying concerns about her extensive ties to controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients. The development underscores warnings from government watchdog groups that Wiles\u2019 lobbying history presents serious conflicts of interest for someone occupying one of the most powerful positions in the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed in a recent court filing that Wiles was subpoenaed in December as a witness in the prosecution of former Republican Congressman David Rivera and his associate Esther Nuhfer. The DOJ filing sought to quash the subpoena, arguing that Wiles has no direct connection to the alleged crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rivera and Nuhfer are accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act<\/a> (FARA) by secretly lobbying on behalf of sanctioned Venezuelan billionaire Ra\u00fal Gorr\u00edn. According to a December 2024 grand jury indictment, Rivera attempted to influence senior US officials to remove Gorr\u00edn from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors allege Rivera helped conceal Gorr\u00edn\u2019s criminal activities and created fraudulent shell companies to disguise lobbying efforts. He allegedly received more than $5.5 million for his services without registering as a foreign agent, a requirement under US law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Media reports have also alleged that Rivera and Nuhfer sought to normalize relations between the Maduro regime and Washington while Rivera\u2019s consulting firm secured a $50 million lobbying contract with a US subsidiary of Venezuela\u2019s state oil company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Attorneys for Rivera subpoenaed Wiles to testify about her work at Ballard Partners, where she lobbied on behalf of Globovisi\u00f3n, a Venezuelan television station owned by Gorr\u00edn. Wiles joined Ballard shortly after managing Trump\u2019s presidential campaign in Florida, bringing significant political influence and access to the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to reports, Gorr\u00edn sought to leverage Wiles\u2019 political connections to gain access to the Trump administration at a time when US sanctions on Venezuela were escalating. Globovisi\u00f3n\u2019s efforts to expand into the US market faced regulatory hurdles due to sanctions and Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Suggestions of territorial ambition or geopolitical confusion will unsettle alliances and erode trust between NATO partners, who are now considered to be at their most cohesive and necessary in resisting Russian and Chinese gains.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Reykjav\u00edk hires DC lobbyist after Trump mixes up Greenland and Iceland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"reykjavik-hires-lobbyist-over-trumps-iceland-greece-mix-up","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-11 16:36:16","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-11 16:36:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10370","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10364,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-10 19:42:23","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:42:23","post_content":"\n A federal criminal lobbying case has drawn President Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles into its orbit, intensifying concerns about her extensive ties to controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients. The development underscores warnings from government watchdog groups that Wiles\u2019 lobbying history presents serious conflicts of interest for someone occupying one of the most powerful positions in the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed in a recent court filing that Wiles was subpoenaed in December as a witness in the prosecution of former Republican Congressman David Rivera and his associate Esther Nuhfer. The DOJ filing sought to quash the subpoena, arguing that Wiles has no direct connection to the alleged crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rivera and Nuhfer are accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act<\/a> (FARA) by secretly lobbying on behalf of sanctioned Venezuelan billionaire Ra\u00fal Gorr\u00edn. According to a December 2024 grand jury indictment, Rivera attempted to influence senior US officials to remove Gorr\u00edn from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors allege Rivera helped conceal Gorr\u00edn\u2019s criminal activities and created fraudulent shell companies to disguise lobbying efforts. He allegedly received more than $5.5 million for his services without registering as a foreign agent, a requirement under US law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Media reports have also alleged that Rivera and Nuhfer sought to normalize relations between the Maduro regime and Washington while Rivera\u2019s consulting firm secured a $50 million lobbying contract with a US subsidiary of Venezuela\u2019s state oil company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Attorneys for Rivera subpoenaed Wiles to testify about her work at Ballard Partners, where she lobbied on behalf of Globovisi\u00f3n, a Venezuelan television station owned by Gorr\u00edn. Wiles joined Ballard shortly after managing Trump\u2019s presidential campaign in Florida, bringing significant political influence and access to the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to reports, Gorr\u00edn sought to leverage Wiles\u2019 political connections to gain access to the Trump administration at a time when US sanctions on Venezuela were escalating. Globovisi\u00f3n\u2019s efforts to expand into the US market faced regulatory hurdles due to sanctions and Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
For the case of Iceland and the rest of the Nordic countries, the US rhetoric on the issue of territorial gain, particularly in the context of military rivalry, is not merely empty rhetoric because of the strategic position of the island regarding NATO infrastructure<\/a>, as well as its position, which can define the GIUK gap, an important naval chokepoint between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suggestions of territorial ambition or geopolitical confusion will unsettle alliances and erode trust between NATO partners, who are now considered to be at their most cohesive and necessary in resisting Russian and Chinese gains.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Reykjav\u00edk hires DC lobbyist after Trump mixes up Greenland and Iceland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"reykjavik-hires-lobbyist-over-trumps-iceland-greece-mix-up","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-11 16:36:16","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-11 16:36:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10370","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10364,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-10 19:42:23","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:42:23","post_content":"\n A federal criminal lobbying case has drawn President Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles into its orbit, intensifying concerns about her extensive ties to controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients. The development underscores warnings from government watchdog groups that Wiles\u2019 lobbying history presents serious conflicts of interest for someone occupying one of the most powerful positions in the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed in a recent court filing that Wiles was subpoenaed in December as a witness in the prosecution of former Republican Congressman David Rivera and his associate Esther Nuhfer. The DOJ filing sought to quash the subpoena, arguing that Wiles has no direct connection to the alleged crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rivera and Nuhfer are accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act<\/a> (FARA) by secretly lobbying on behalf of sanctioned Venezuelan billionaire Ra\u00fal Gorr\u00edn. According to a December 2024 grand jury indictment, Rivera attempted to influence senior US officials to remove Gorr\u00edn from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors allege Rivera helped conceal Gorr\u00edn\u2019s criminal activities and created fraudulent shell companies to disguise lobbying efforts. He allegedly received more than $5.5 million for his services without registering as a foreign agent, a requirement under US law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Media reports have also alleged that Rivera and Nuhfer sought to normalize relations between the Maduro regime and Washington while Rivera\u2019s consulting firm secured a $50 million lobbying contract with a US subsidiary of Venezuela\u2019s state oil company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Attorneys for Rivera subpoenaed Wiles to testify about her work at Ballard Partners, where she lobbied on behalf of Globovisi\u00f3n, a Venezuelan television station owned by Gorr\u00edn. Wiles joined Ballard shortly after managing Trump\u2019s presidential campaign in Florida, bringing significant political influence and access to the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to reports, Gorr\u00edn sought to leverage Wiles\u2019 political connections to gain access to the Trump administration at a time when US sanctions on Venezuela were escalating. Globovisi\u00f3n\u2019s efforts to expand into the US market faced regulatory hurdles due to sanctions and Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
For the case of Iceland and the rest of the Nordic countries, the US rhetoric on the issue of territorial gain, particularly in the context of military rivalry, is not merely empty rhetoric because of the strategic position of the island regarding NATO infrastructure<\/a>, as well as its position, which can define the GIUK gap, an important naval chokepoint between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suggestions of territorial ambition or geopolitical confusion will unsettle alliances and erode trust between NATO partners, who are now considered to be at their most cohesive and necessary in resisting Russian and Chinese gains.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Reykjav\u00edk hires DC lobbyist after Trump mixes up Greenland and Iceland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"reykjavik-hires-lobbyist-over-trumps-iceland-greece-mix-up","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-11 16:36:16","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-11 16:36:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10370","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10364,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-10 19:42:23","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:42:23","post_content":"\n A federal criminal lobbying case has drawn President Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles into its orbit, intensifying concerns about her extensive ties to controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients. The development underscores warnings from government watchdog groups that Wiles\u2019 lobbying history presents serious conflicts of interest for someone occupying one of the most powerful positions in the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed in a recent court filing that Wiles was subpoenaed in December as a witness in the prosecution of former Republican Congressman David Rivera and his associate Esther Nuhfer. The DOJ filing sought to quash the subpoena, arguing that Wiles has no direct connection to the alleged crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rivera and Nuhfer are accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act<\/a> (FARA) by secretly lobbying on behalf of sanctioned Venezuelan billionaire Ra\u00fal Gorr\u00edn. According to a December 2024 grand jury indictment, Rivera attempted to influence senior US officials to remove Gorr\u00edn from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors allege Rivera helped conceal Gorr\u00edn\u2019s criminal activities and created fraudulent shell companies to disguise lobbying efforts. He allegedly received more than $5.5 million for his services without registering as a foreign agent, a requirement under US law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Media reports have also alleged that Rivera and Nuhfer sought to normalize relations between the Maduro regime and Washington while Rivera\u2019s consulting firm secured a $50 million lobbying contract with a US subsidiary of Venezuela\u2019s state oil company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Attorneys for Rivera subpoenaed Wiles to testify about her work at Ballard Partners, where she lobbied on behalf of Globovisi\u00f3n, a Venezuelan television station owned by Gorr\u00edn. Wiles joined Ballard shortly after managing Trump\u2019s presidential campaign in Florida, bringing significant political influence and access to the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to reports, Gorr\u00edn sought to leverage Wiles\u2019 political connections to gain access to the Trump administration at a time when US sanctions on Venezuela were escalating. Globovisi\u00f3n\u2019s efforts to expand into the US market faced regulatory hurdles due to sanctions and Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Long later explained the remark, saying it had been intended as a joke; however, from an analytical standpoint, such comments contribute to an environment of ambiguity for the small countries of the Arctic, who are already apprehensive about the great power rivalry in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the case of Iceland and the rest of the Nordic countries, the US rhetoric on the issue of territorial gain, particularly in the context of military rivalry, is not merely empty rhetoric because of the strategic position of the island regarding NATO infrastructure<\/a>, as well as its position, which can define the GIUK gap, an important naval chokepoint between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suggestions of territorial ambition or geopolitical confusion will unsettle alliances and erode trust between NATO partners, who are now considered to be at their most cohesive and necessary in resisting Russian and Chinese gains.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Reykjav\u00edk hires DC lobbyist after Trump mixes up Greenland and Iceland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"reykjavik-hires-lobbyist-over-trumps-iceland-greece-mix-up","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-11 16:36:16","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-11 16:36:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10370","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10364,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-10 19:42:23","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:42:23","post_content":"\n A federal criminal lobbying case has drawn President Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles into its orbit, intensifying concerns about her extensive ties to controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients. The development underscores warnings from government watchdog groups that Wiles\u2019 lobbying history presents serious conflicts of interest for someone occupying one of the most powerful positions in the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed in a recent court filing that Wiles was subpoenaed in December as a witness in the prosecution of former Republican Congressman David Rivera and his associate Esther Nuhfer. The DOJ filing sought to quash the subpoena, arguing that Wiles has no direct connection to the alleged crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rivera and Nuhfer are accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act<\/a> (FARA) by secretly lobbying on behalf of sanctioned Venezuelan billionaire Ra\u00fal Gorr\u00edn. According to a December 2024 grand jury indictment, Rivera attempted to influence senior US officials to remove Gorr\u00edn from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors allege Rivera helped conceal Gorr\u00edn\u2019s criminal activities and created fraudulent shell companies to disguise lobbying efforts. He allegedly received more than $5.5 million for his services without registering as a foreign agent, a requirement under US law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Media reports have also alleged that Rivera and Nuhfer sought to normalize relations between the Maduro regime and Washington while Rivera\u2019s consulting firm secured a $50 million lobbying contract with a US subsidiary of Venezuela\u2019s state oil company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Attorneys for Rivera subpoenaed Wiles to testify about her work at Ballard Partners, where she lobbied on behalf of Globovisi\u00f3n, a Venezuelan television station owned by Gorr\u00edn. Wiles joined Ballard shortly after managing Trump\u2019s presidential campaign in Florida, bringing significant political influence and access to the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to reports, Gorr\u00edn sought to leverage Wiles\u2019 political connections to gain access to the Trump administration at a time when US sanctions on Venezuela were escalating. Globovisi\u00f3n\u2019s efforts to expand into the US market faced regulatory hurdles due to sanctions and Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense lawyers want Wiles to testify about communications between Ballard Partners and Gorr\u00edn, and any attempts to influence Trump\u2019s administration regarding Venezuela. They also subpoenaed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who allegedly met privately with Rivera, Nuhfer, and Gorr\u00edn in Washington in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its court filing, the DOJ argued that Wiles had no apparent involvement in Rivera\u2019s alleged FARA violations. However, the mere fact that the sitting White House chief of staff has been subpoenaed in a foreign lobbying criminal case has raised alarms among ethics experts and transparency advocates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen, a prominent government watchdog group, had previously warned about Wiles\u2019 lobbying record when Trump appointed her. In a November 2024 report, the organization identified at least 42 corporate and foreign clients she represented between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Citizen described Wiles\u2019 client roster as \u201cextensive and littered with controversial clients who stand to benefit from having their former lobbyist running the White House.\u201d Beyond Gorr\u00edn\u2019s media company, Wiles represented a waste management firm that resisted efforts to remove nuclear waste from a landfill, a tobacco company seeking to block federal restrictions on flavored cigars, and a foreign mining private equity firm seeking approval for a gold mining project on federal public land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics argue that such clients exemplify the revolving door between corporate lobbying and government power, raising concerns about regulatory capture and policy decisions influenced by former clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon Golinger, a democracy advocate with Public Citizen, said the subpoena in the Rivera case intensifies questions about Wiles\u2019 impartiality and the integrity of the administration. He argued that her deep entanglement with controversial corporate and foreign interests demonstrates<\/a> why her appointment poses ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis kind of entanglement shows exactly why a person with Wiles\u2019 lengthy record of controversial corporate and foreign lobbying clients is too conflicted to be running the White House,\u201d Golinger said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump aide Susie Wiles drawn into foreign lobbying investigation","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-aide-susie-wiles-tied-to-foreign-lobbying-probe","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10364","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10354,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:32","post_content":"\n Purported emails obtained from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show that Peter Mandelson\u2019s old lobbying firm, Global Counsel, targeted rich contracts from companies that were owned by the Russian and Chinese governments, just after leaving the government as a minister. In the emails, which were forwarded to him by Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser were shown to be actively seeking rich contracts from abroad even during his days in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential clients included Rusnano, a Russian state technology investment fund, and China International Capital Corporation (CICC), a state-backed Chinese financial services firm. The revelations raise serious questions about influence, ethics, and national security <\/a>implications of post-ministerial lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The emails also reveal that Wegg-Prosser visited Epstein's New York townhouse in 2010 to discuss Global Counsel's business plans. A source close to the meeting said it was requested by Mandelson and lasted around 25 minutes. Wegg-Prosser has resigned as chief executive of Global Counsel as scrutiny mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The disclosures are part of a trove of more than 3 million files released from investigations into Epstein, who served a prison sentence in 2008 for child sex offences but maintained elite political and business connections until his arrest and death in custody in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelations have sparked a political crisis for the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the United States despite being aware of the latter's association with Epstein in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel has attempted to limit the fallout, revoking Mandelson\u2019s voting rights and urging him to divest his stake in the firm. A spokesperson insisted Epstein played no role in the firm\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the emails provide an unusually detailed glimpse into Global Counsel\u2019s early lobbying strategy and its pursuit of politically sensitive clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Documents show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser were introduced to Epstein in March 2010, when Mandelson was still serving as business secretary and before the formation of Global Counsel. Epstein's planners refer to Wegg-Prosser as \"Mandelson's friend,\" and Mandelson added the comment that Wegg-Prosser would \"explain the business plan.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Labour lost power in May 2010, Mandelson quickly looked for opportunities in the private sector, reaching out to various companies, like Glencore and BP, while continuing to develop his idea of Global Counsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2010, Mandelson suggested Sberbank, Russia\u2019s state-owned banking giant, as a potential client. By October, Wegg-Prosser was discussing business opportunities in Russia through Rusnano. At the time, UK policy encouraged commercial engagement with Russia, though such ties are now viewed through a national security lens following Moscow\u2019s later invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By early 2011, Global Counsel also targeted China International Capital Corporation, with internal emails suggesting the firm could secure a communications contract worth \u00a3250,000 per year over 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emails also referenced BAE Systems, the UK\u2019s largest defence contractor. Mandelson\u2019s role as business secretary had included oversight of defence exports and industrial policy, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAE Systems stated it had never hired Global Counsel in any capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson continued pursuing Russian connections after leaving office. Before a World Economic Forum event in 2012, he claimed he would email President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials to arrange meetings, though no evidence suggests the outreach succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Counsel also pitched <\/a>services to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, a Greek state privatization body established during the eurozone debt crisis. Internal documents proposed strategies to secure high-level political engagement across Europe, including with UK No.10 and the Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2011, Wegg-Prosser met Iranian property developer Vincent Tchenguiz to explore potential collaboration. The meeting occurred shortly before Tchenguiz and his brother were arrested in a high-profile Serious Fraud Office case that later collapsed, with Tchenguiz receiving \u00a36 million in compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandelson acknowledged reputational concerns in emails to Epstein, describing Tchenguiz as \u201cvery interesting\u201d but noting he was seen as a controversial corporate figure.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Mandelson lobbying firm sought contracts with Russian and Chinese state companies","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"mandelson-lobbying-firm-sought-contracts-with-russian-and-chinese-state-companies","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-08 14:22:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10354","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Although there is nothing in the filing that explicitly connects the lobbying effort with Trump's Davos speech, the timing is suspicious. The agreement was finalized just days after Trump's speech, as well as remarks by Trump's ambassador nominee to Iceland, Billy Long, in which the representative joked that Iceland could be the \"52nd state.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Long later explained the remark, saying it had been intended as a joke; however, from an analytical standpoint, such comments contribute to an environment of ambiguity for the small countries of the Arctic, who are already apprehensive about the great power rivalry in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the case of Iceland and the rest of the Nordic countries, the US rhetoric on the issue of territorial gain, particularly in the context of military rivalry, is not merely empty rhetoric because of the strategic position of the island regarding NATO infrastructure<\/a>, as well as its position, which can define the GIUK gap, an important naval chokepoint between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suggestions of territorial ambition or geopolitical confusion will unsettle alliances and erode trust between NATO partners, who are now considered to be at their most cohesive and necessary in resisting Russian and Chinese gains.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Reykjav\u00edk hires DC lobbyist after Trump mixes up Greenland and Iceland","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"reykjavik-hires-lobbyist-over-trumps-iceland-greece-mix-up","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-02-11 16:36:16","post_modified_gmt":"2026-02-11 16:36:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=10370","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10364,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2026-02-10 19:42:23","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-10 19:42:23","post_content":"\nMeeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Wiles\u2019 Lobbying Work Linked to Sanctioned Venezuelan Interests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Wiles\u2019 Lobbying Work Linked to Sanctioned Venezuelan Interests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Wiles\u2019 Lobbying Work Linked to Sanctioned Venezuelan Interests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Wiles\u2019 Lobbying Work Linked to Sanctioned Venezuelan Interests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
The Rivera Case and Alleged Violations of Foreign Lobbying Laws<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wiles\u2019 Lobbying Work Linked to Sanctioned Venezuelan Interests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
The Rivera Case and Alleged Violations of Foreign Lobbying Laws<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wiles\u2019 Lobbying Work Linked to Sanctioned Venezuelan Interests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
The Rivera Case and Alleged Violations of Foreign Lobbying Laws<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wiles\u2019 Lobbying Work Linked to Sanctioned Venezuelan Interests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
The Rivera Case and Alleged Violations of Foreign Lobbying Laws<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wiles\u2019 Lobbying Work Linked to Sanctioned Venezuelan Interests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
The Rivera Case and Alleged Violations of Foreign Lobbying Laws<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wiles\u2019 Lobbying Work Linked to Sanctioned Venezuelan Interests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Arctic Anxiety Among Smaller States<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Rivera Case and Alleged Violations of Foreign Lobbying Laws<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wiles\u2019 Lobbying Work Linked to Sanctioned Venezuelan Interests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Arctic Anxiety Among Smaller States<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Rivera Case and Alleged Violations of Foreign Lobbying Laws<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wiles\u2019 Lobbying Work Linked to Sanctioned Venezuelan Interests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
DOJ Downplays Wiles\u2019 Role but Questions Persist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Record of Controversial Corporate and Foreign Clients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Democracy Advocates Warn of Structural Conflicts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Links to Jeffrey Epstein Raise Serious Political and Ethical Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Political Fallout for Keir Starmer\u2019s Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Global Counsel\u2019s Efforts to Distance Itself From the Scandal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Meetings With Epstein and Business Plans Before Firm\u2019s Formal Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Targeting Russian and Chinese State-Backed Corporations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Potential Defence Industry Links Raise Conflict-of-Interest Concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Continued Outreach to Russian Political Elites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lobbying Greek State Assets and European Policymakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meeting With Iranian Business Figures and Reputational Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Arctic Anxiety Among Smaller States<\/h2>\n\n\n\n