Foreign Lobbyists Contributed More Than $4.5 Million to Candidates in 2016 Elections
▻http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/foreign-lobbyists-contributed-more-45-million-candidates-2016-elections-262
Because the donations come from foreign governments’ U.S.-based lobbyists, they effectively circumvent American laws designed to bar direct foreign donations. Under federal law, foreign nationals are prohibited from donating to any federal, state, or local campaigns, or political parties. But foreign governments frequently hire U.S. citizens to represent their interests, and those people face no such contribution ban.
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Top recipients of foreign lobbyist money
Hillary Clinton (D)
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Few foreign governments wield as much influence in Washington as Saudi Arabia. The Gulf monarchy employed about 20 lobbying firms during 2016 cycle. Employees of four of those firms — the Podesta Group, BGR Government Affairs, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, and the Glover Park Group — gave more than $580,000 to federal candidates.