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The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Dunn noted.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Musk\u2019s Tesla, SpaceX, lobby US trade policy on tariffs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"musks-tesla-spacex-lobby-us-trade-policy-on-tariffs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7444","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7441,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_content":"\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\u201cAs President Trump has noted with other sectors, this is a significant disadvantage to U.S. companies,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Dunn noted.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Musk\u2019s Tesla, SpaceX, lobby US trade policy on tariffs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"musks-tesla-spacex-lobby-us-trade-policy-on-tariffs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7444","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7441,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_content":"\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
noted Mat Dunn, SpaceX\u2019s senior director of global business and government affairs, in the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs President Trump has noted with other sectors, this is a significant disadvantage to U.S. companies,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Dunn noted.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Musk\u2019s Tesla, SpaceX, lobby US trade policy on tariffs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"musks-tesla-spacex-lobby-us-trade-policy-on-tariffs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7444","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7441,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_content":"\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\u201cThe import duties paid in a handful of countries represent a significant cost increase for Starlink products in those countries, despite the United States having essentially no duties on similar foreign products that are imported into the United States to serve customers here,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n noted Mat Dunn, SpaceX\u2019s senior director of global business and government affairs, in the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs President Trump has noted with other sectors, this is a significant disadvantage to U.S. companies,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Dunn noted.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Musk\u2019s Tesla, SpaceX, lobby US trade policy on tariffs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"musks-tesla-spacex-lobby-us-trade-policy-on-tariffs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7444","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7441,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_content":"\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The letter reported that the business must pay foreign governments for access to spectrum and import duties for its Starlink satellite internet tools, and other costs that \u201csubstantially increase the cost of operating in these countries \u2014 artificially.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe import duties paid in a handful of countries represent a significant cost increase for Starlink products in those countries, despite the United States having essentially no duties on similar foreign products that are imported into the United States to serve customers here,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n noted Mat Dunn, SpaceX\u2019s senior director of global business and government affairs, in the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs President Trump has noted with other sectors, this is a significant disadvantage to U.S. companies,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Dunn noted.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Musk\u2019s Tesla, SpaceX, lobby US trade policy on tariffs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"musks-tesla-spacex-lobby-us-trade-policy-on-tariffs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7444","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7441,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_content":"\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
SpaceX, in its letter to Greer, stated that it \u201cfaces a range of regulatory complexities and trade barriers in every country that the U.S. Government should seek to address in order to support continued U.S. leadership in the space domain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The letter reported that the business must pay foreign governments for access to spectrum and import duties for its Starlink satellite internet tools, and other costs that \u201csubstantially increase the cost of operating in these countries \u2014 artificially.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe import duties paid in a handful of countries represent a significant cost increase for Starlink products in those countries, despite the United States having essentially no duties on similar foreign products that are imported into the United States to serve customers here,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n noted Mat Dunn, SpaceX\u2019s senior director of global business and government affairs, in the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs President Trump has noted with other sectors, this is a significant disadvantage to U.S. companies,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Dunn noted.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Musk\u2019s Tesla, SpaceX, lobby US trade policy on tariffs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"musks-tesla-spacex-lobby-us-trade-policy-on-tariffs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7444","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7441,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_content":"\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
the letter stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SpaceX, in its letter to Greer, stated that it \u201cfaces a range of regulatory complexities and trade barriers in every country that the U.S. Government should seek to address in order to support continued U.S. leadership in the space domain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The letter reported that the business must pay foreign governments for access to spectrum and import duties for its Starlink satellite internet tools, and other costs that \u201csubstantially increase the cost of operating in these countries \u2014 artificially.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe import duties paid in a handful of countries represent a significant cost increase for Starlink products in those countries, despite the United States having essentially no duties on similar foreign products that are imported into the United States to serve customers here,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n noted Mat Dunn, SpaceX\u2019s senior director of global business and government affairs, in the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs President Trump has noted with other sectors, this is a significant disadvantage to U.S. companies,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Dunn noted.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Musk\u2019s Tesla, SpaceX, lobby US trade policy on tariffs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"musks-tesla-spacex-lobby-us-trade-policy-on-tariffs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7444","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7441,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_content":"\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\u201cUSTR should investigate ways to avoid these pitfalls in future action,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n the letter stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SpaceX, in its letter to Greer, stated that it \u201cfaces a range of regulatory complexities and trade barriers in every country that the U.S. Government should seek to address in order to support continued U.S. leadership in the space domain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The letter reported that the business must pay foreign governments for access to spectrum and import duties for its Starlink satellite internet tools, and other costs that \u201csubstantially increase the cost of operating in these countries \u2014 artificially.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe import duties paid in a handful of countries represent a significant cost increase for Starlink products in those countries, despite the United States having essentially no duties on similar foreign products that are imported into the United States to serve customers here,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n noted Mat Dunn, SpaceX\u2019s senior director of global business and government affairs, in the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs President Trump has noted with other sectors, this is a significant disadvantage to U.S. companies,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Dunn noted.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Musk\u2019s Tesla, SpaceX, lobby US trade policy on tariffs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"musks-tesla-spacex-lobby-us-trade-policy-on-tariffs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7444","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7441,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_content":"\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\u201cU.S. exporters are inherently exposed to disproportionate impacts when other countries respond to U.S. trade actions.\u201d The company noted that \u201cPast U.S. special tariff actions have thus (1) increased costs to Tesla for vehicles manufactured in the United States, and (2) increased costs for those same vehicles when exported from the United States, resulting in less competitive international marketplace for U.S. manufacturers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUSTR should investigate ways to avoid these pitfalls in future action,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n the letter stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SpaceX, in its letter to Greer, stated that it \u201cfaces a range of regulatory complexities and trade barriers in every country that the U.S. Government should seek to address in order to support continued U.S. leadership in the space domain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The letter reported that the business must pay foreign governments for access to spectrum and import duties for its Starlink satellite internet tools, and other costs that \u201csubstantially increase the cost of operating in these countries \u2014 artificially.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe import duties paid in a handful of countries represent a significant cost increase for Starlink products in those countries, despite the United States having essentially no duties on similar foreign products that are imported into the United States to serve customers here,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n noted Mat Dunn, SpaceX\u2019s senior director of global business and government affairs, in the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs President Trump has noted with other sectors, this is a significant disadvantage to U.S. companies,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Dunn noted.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Musk\u2019s Tesla, SpaceX, lobby US trade policy on tariffs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"musks-tesla-spacex-lobby-us-trade-policy-on-tariffs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7444","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7441,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_content":"\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Tesla, in its unsigned note to Greer, urged him \u201cto consider the downstream impacts of certain proposed actions taken to address unfair trade practices.\u201d \u201cWhile Tesla recognizes and supports the importance of fair trade, the assessment undertaken by USTR of potential actions to rectify unfair trade should also take into account exports from the United States,\u201d stated the letter, which was written by Tesla\u2019s associate general counsel Miriam Eqab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cU.S. exporters are inherently exposed to disproportionate impacts when other countries respond to U.S. trade actions.\u201d The company noted that \u201cPast U.S. special tariff actions have thus (1) increased costs to Tesla for vehicles manufactured in the United States, and (2) increased costs for those same vehicles when exported from the United States, resulting in less competitive international marketplace for U.S. manufacturers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUSTR should investigate ways to avoid these pitfalls in future action,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n the letter stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SpaceX, in its letter to Greer, stated that it \u201cfaces a range of regulatory complexities and trade barriers in every country that the U.S. Government should seek to address in order to support continued U.S. leadership in the space domain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The letter reported that the business must pay foreign governments for access to spectrum and import duties for its Starlink satellite internet tools, and other costs that \u201csubstantially increase the cost of operating in these countries \u2014 artificially.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe import duties paid in a handful of countries represent a significant cost increase for Starlink products in those countries, despite the United States having essentially no duties on similar foreign products that are imported into the United States to serve customers here,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n noted Mat Dunn, SpaceX\u2019s senior director of global business and government affairs, in the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs President Trump has noted with other sectors, this is a significant disadvantage to U.S. companies,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Dunn noted.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Musk\u2019s Tesla, SpaceX, lobby US trade policy on tariffs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"musks-tesla-spacex-lobby-us-trade-policy-on-tariffs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7444","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7441,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_content":"\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
There have been more than 700 letters received by the trade<\/a> representative\u2019s office in reaction to an invitation for a public statement on \u201cunfair trade practices by other countries.\u201d The responses are posted on a public docket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla, in its unsigned note to Greer, urged him \u201cto consider the downstream impacts of certain proposed actions taken to address unfair trade practices.\u201d \u201cWhile Tesla recognizes and supports the importance of fair trade, the assessment undertaken by USTR of potential actions to rectify unfair trade should also take into account exports from the United States,\u201d stated the letter, which was written by Tesla\u2019s associate general counsel Miriam Eqab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cU.S. exporters are inherently exposed to disproportionate impacts when other countries respond to U.S. trade actions.\u201d The company noted that \u201cPast U.S. special tariff actions have thus (1) increased costs to Tesla for vehicles manufactured in the United States, and (2) increased costs for those same vehicles when exported from the United States, resulting in less competitive international marketplace for U.S. manufacturers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUSTR should investigate ways to avoid these pitfalls in future action,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n the letter stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SpaceX, in its letter to Greer, stated that it \u201cfaces a range of regulatory complexities and trade barriers in every country that the U.S. Government should seek to address in order to support continued U.S. leadership in the space domain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The letter reported that the business must pay foreign governments for access to spectrum and import duties for its Starlink satellite internet tools, and other costs that \u201csubstantially increase the cost of operating in these countries \u2014 artificially.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe import duties paid in a handful of countries represent a significant cost increase for Starlink products in those countries, despite the United States having essentially no duties on similar foreign products that are imported into the United States to serve customers here,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n noted Mat Dunn, SpaceX\u2019s senior director of global business and government affairs, in the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs President Trump has noted with other sectors, this is a significant disadvantage to U.S. companies,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Dunn noted.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Musk\u2019s Tesla, SpaceX, lobby US trade policy on tariffs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"musks-tesla-spacex-lobby-us-trade-policy-on-tariffs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7444","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7441,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_content":"\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The notes come as Musk leads the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, a step to slash federal government spending and employee headcount at the direction of President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Trump is imposing stiff tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada, with China and Canada hitting back with retaliatory tariffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There have been more than 700 letters received by the trade<\/a> representative\u2019s office in reaction to an invitation for a public statement on \u201cunfair trade practices by other countries.\u201d The responses are posted on a public docket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla, in its unsigned note to Greer, urged him \u201cto consider the downstream impacts of certain proposed actions taken to address unfair trade practices.\u201d \u201cWhile Tesla recognizes and supports the importance of fair trade, the assessment undertaken by USTR of potential actions to rectify unfair trade should also take into account exports from the United States,\u201d stated the letter, which was written by Tesla\u2019s associate general counsel Miriam Eqab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cU.S. exporters are inherently exposed to disproportionate impacts when other countries respond to U.S. trade actions.\u201d The company noted that \u201cPast U.S. special tariff actions have thus (1) increased costs to Tesla for vehicles manufactured in the United States, and (2) increased costs for those same vehicles when exported from the United States, resulting in less competitive international marketplace for U.S. manufacturers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUSTR should investigate ways to avoid these pitfalls in future action,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n the letter stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SpaceX, in its letter to Greer, stated that it \u201cfaces a range of regulatory complexities and trade barriers in every country that the U.S. Government should seek to address in order to support continued U.S. leadership in the space domain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The letter reported that the business must pay foreign governments for access to spectrum and import duties for its Starlink satellite internet tools, and other costs that \u201csubstantially increase the cost of operating in these countries \u2014 artificially.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe import duties paid in a handful of countries represent a significant cost increase for Starlink products in those countries, despite the United States having essentially no duties on similar foreign products that are imported into the United States to serve customers here,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n noted Mat Dunn, SpaceX\u2019s senior director of global business and government affairs, in the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs President Trump has noted with other sectors, this is a significant disadvantage to U.S. companies,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Dunn noted.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Musk\u2019s Tesla, SpaceX, lobby US trade policy on tariffs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"musks-tesla-spacex-lobby-us-trade-policy-on-tariffs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7444","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7441,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_content":"\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an investigation <\/a>by Follow The Money, an investigative journalism platform, one of the primary suspects in the investigation is 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who has worked for Huawei since 2019. Following his appointment as Huawei\u2019s EU public affairs director, Ottati was an assistant to two Italian MEPs who were both members of a European Parliament group focused on China policy, Follow the Money reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the arrests, the company remarked that \u201cHuawei takes these allegations seriously and will urgently communicate with the investigation to further understand the situation.\u201d \u201cHuawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times,\u201d it also said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Parliament stated only that the assembly \u201ctakes note of the information\u201d and \u201calways cooperates fully with the judicial authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated the EU\u2019s executive branch had no opinion about the investigation but stressed the commission\u2019s security worries about Huawei and Europe\u2019s fifth-generation mobile phone networks. \u201cThe security of our 5G networks is obviously crucial for our economy,\u201d Regnier told reporters. \u201cHuawei represents materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n EU member states should swiftly \u201cadopt decisions to restrict or to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks,\u201d Regnier stated. \u201cA lack of swift action would expose the EU as a whole to a clear risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Huawei, a manufacturer of smartphones and the largest maker of networking gear for phone and internet carriers has been at the center of a trade war between the United States and China over trade and technology. Some European countries have followed the US\u2019s lead and restricted Huawei\u2019s hardware from next-generation mobile networks over suspicions that it poses a security risk that makes it easier for Chinese spying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The legislature was shaken by a corruption scandal in December 2022, in which Qatari officials were indicted for bribing EU officials to diminish labour rights concerns ahead of the football World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scandal tarnished the prestige of the EU\u2019s only institution composed of officials elected directly in the 27 member nations. It damaged the assembly\u2019s claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into accusations of corruption in member nation Hungary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEP Daniel Freund, who oversaw the work of the assembly\u2019s ethics body during the scandal, known as Qatargate, said the EU Parliament\u2019s credibility is again under threat. \u201cThe risk of corruption in Brussels is high because the EU is so influential,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a complete investigation quickly, and finally reforms that will make the Parliament more resistant to corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU Parliament faces corruption investigation involving Huawei lobbying ","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eu-parliament-faces-corruption-investigation-involving-huawei-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:29:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7438","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":14},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Meanwhile, SpaceX complains that operating expenses for its Starlink internet satellite service are raised by trade barriers abroad, while foreign competitors experience no such costs in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The notes come as Musk leads the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, a step to slash federal government spending and employee headcount at the direction of President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Trump is imposing stiff tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada, with China and Canada hitting back with retaliatory tariffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There have been more than 700 letters received by the trade<\/a> representative\u2019s office in reaction to an invitation for a public statement on \u201cunfair trade practices by other countries.\u201d The responses are posted on a public docket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tesla, in its unsigned note to Greer, urged him \u201cto consider the downstream impacts of certain proposed actions taken to address unfair trade practices.\u201d \u201cWhile Tesla recognizes and supports the importance of fair trade, the assessment undertaken by USTR of potential actions to rectify unfair trade should also take into account exports from the United States,\u201d stated the letter, which was written by Tesla\u2019s associate general counsel Miriam Eqab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cU.S. exporters are inherently exposed to disproportionate impacts when other countries respond to U.S. trade actions.\u201d The company noted that \u201cPast U.S. special tariff actions have thus (1) increased costs to Tesla for vehicles manufactured in the United States, and (2) increased costs for those same vehicles when exported from the United States, resulting in less competitive international marketplace for U.S. manufacturers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUSTR should investigate ways to avoid these pitfalls in future action,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n the letter stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SpaceX, in its letter to Greer, stated that it \u201cfaces a range of regulatory complexities and trade barriers in every country that the U.S. Government should seek to address in order to support continued U.S. leadership in the space domain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The letter reported that the business must pay foreign governments for access to spectrum and import duties for its Starlink satellite internet tools, and other costs that \u201csubstantially increase the cost of operating in these countries \u2014 artificially.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe import duties paid in a handful of countries represent a significant cost increase for Starlink products in those countries, despite the United States having essentially no duties on similar foreign products that are imported into the United States to serve customers here,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n noted Mat Dunn, SpaceX\u2019s senior director of global business and government affairs, in the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs President Trump has noted with other sectors, this is a significant disadvantage to U.S. companies,\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Dunn noted.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Musk\u2019s Tesla, SpaceX, lobby US trade policy on tariffs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"musks-tesla-spacex-lobby-us-trade-policy-on-tariffs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:37:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7444","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7441,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-19 05:29:00","post_content":"\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s partnership with the fossil fuel industry is well-noted, from appointing oil executives for cabinet roles to increasing prices for American consumers to support the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The world's six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, famously known as Big Oil, spent an astounding $445m throughout the 2024 election cycle to influence Donald Trump and Congress, a shocking analysis has revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those funds were used between January 2023 and November 2024 for lobbying<\/a>, political donations and advertising to back elected officials and particular agendas. Due to the fact that it does not include donations channeled through dark-money groups, which do not have to disclose their donors, states the report<\/a> from green advocacy group Climate Power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuel corporations contributed $96 million to Donald Trump\u2019s re-election bid and associated political action committees, the report uncovered. The majority of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren, the fracking magnate Harold Hamm and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several other contributions came from little-known oil and gas companies, including fossil fuel-trading hedge funds, mining corporations and the companies that produce offshore drilling vessels and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, Fossil fuel firms and their trade groups spent an additional $243m lobbying Congress. It is likely that those donors will benefit from preferences set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such as Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was selected as head of the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin, the ex-New York representative who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and who is appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, Big Oil also poured $80m into advertising to defend their interests. That includes advertisements run in swing states, such as one from the refining lobbying firm American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which campaigned against Joe Biden\u2019s pro-electric automobile approaches, or another eight-figure ad blitz from leading US oil lobbying firm the American Petroleum Institute that enabled the notion that fossil fuels are \u201cvital\u201d to the world's energy security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, oil and gas firms and trade groups paid more than $25m on Republican down-ballot campaigns, including $8m on Senate fights, $16m on House races and more than $500,000 on GOP gubernatorial nominees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the long run, these contributions may \u201clikely to pay dividends,\u201d the report states, with Republicans in charge of the White House, House and Senate \u2013 as well as some critical states. Trump has launched dozens of pro-fossil fuel administrative actions on his first day in office and is likely to pursue a vast collection of others with collaboration from Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In light of this, the US must \u201cfree ourselves from Big Oil\u2019s grip and invest in the clean energy of the future\u201d, the Climate Power report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Trump's campaign promise to \u201cdrill, baby, drill\u201d, remove limitations on the already roaring fossil fuel industry and reverse Biden\u2019s climate approaches. \u201cWe have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,\u201d Trump stated in his inaugural address. \u201cWe will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump's fossil fuel-funded presidency by Big Oil's $445m lobbying","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trumps-fossil-fuel-funded-presidency-by-big-oils-445m-lobbying","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-23 05:32:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7438,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-03-18 05:19:00","post_content":"\n A few days ago, Belgian federal prosecutors reported the arrests of several people in a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese firm Huawei, which is suspected of bribing European Union legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These arrests came as an inquiry by Le Soir newspaper and other media revealed lobbyists working for the Chinese company were alleged to have bribed present or former European Parliament members to advance the company\u2019s commercial approaches in Europe<\/a>. The prosecutor\u2019s office said in a statement that the alleged bribery \u201cis said to have benefited Huawei.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly 100 federal police officials conducted 21 search operations in Brussels, the Flanders and Wallonia regions, and Portugal. In addition, the investigating magistrate has also asked for seals to be put on offices inside the EU Parliament<\/a> assigned to two parliamentary assistants allegedly engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors declared one individual was apprehended in France. The person would be asked over \u201calleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries,\u201d prosecutors said. \u201cThe offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prosecutor\u2019s office further said it suspected there was corruption \u201cfrom 2021 to the present day\u201d based on a variety of factors, \u201csuch as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prosecutors have also suggested that payments might have been concealed as business costs and, in some cases, directed toward third parties. They stated they would additionally attempt to \u201cdetect any evidence of money laundering.\u201d Police confiscated several documents and entities during the searches. The EU Parliament has been the victim of a second corruption case in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What has Huawei said about the allegations?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How is the EU Parliament and Commission responding to the scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does this compare to the Qatargate scandal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How much did Big Oil spend to support Trump?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What role did oil lobbyists play in Trump\u2019s policies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the climate risks of Trump\u2019s pro-oil stance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did Belgian prosecutors uncover the bribery scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n