Joe Biden Busted Taking Money From Russian Lobbyist Before Pipeline Cave And In Violation Of Own Campaign Pledge
President Biden and his political allies took a few laps in the swamp and came out dirty a new report details. Biden and his guys got busted taking campaign money from a top Russia lobbyist in 2020, just months before Biden caved on sanctions on a company building a controversial Russian oil pipeline to Germany.
Richard Burt, a managing partner at McLarty Associates and a former US ambassador to Germany during the Reagan administration, gave $4,000 for Joe Biden in October 2020 FEC records show. Burt also gave $10,000 to the Dem-aligned political action committee Unite The County in March 2020.
In taking the cash Biden violated his own campaign pledge not to accept lobbyist donations but what smells worse is that Burt is currently directly engaged in lobbying activities for the Russia to Germany pipeline, the Nord Stream 2 AG.
“When Richard Burt donated to Biden Victory Fund, he failed to acknowledge that he was a registered foreign agent and was therefore ineligible to contribute,” A Democratic National Committee spokesman said. “Because Burt also listed a different employer than on his Foreign Agents Registration Act registration, he was not flagged during our vetting process.”
Nord Stream 2 has partnered with five European energy companies, ENGIE, OMV, Shell, Uniper and Wintershall Dea to build the pipeline. Lobbying disclosure forms show Burt is currently advocating on behalf of all five of the energy companies.
“Reading between the lines you can clearly see what that lobbying looks like,” Anna Massoglia, an Investigative Researcher at the Center for Responsive Politics said. “While it’s not evidence of anything illegal. It’s just something that is evidence of how influence works in Washington.”
Gazprom, a company controlled by the Russian government, will own and operate the pipeline, which runs 1,200 kilometers from Russia to Germany.
Biden announced his decision to waive the sanctions on the Russian company, and its construction of the pipeline “is almost completely finished.”
“Because it’s almost completely finished, No. 1. The idea that anything that — and it’s not like I can allow Germany to do something they’re not,” he said, noting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was “almost completed by the time I took office.”
“To go ahead and impose sanctions now, I think, would be counterproductive now in terms of our European relations. And they know how strongly I feel. And I hope we can work on how they handle it from this point on,” he said Tuesday.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement last week signaling the administration’s opposition to the pipeline.
“Today’s actions demonstrate the Administration’s commitment to energy security in Europe, consistent with the President’s pledge to rebuild relationships with our allies and partners in Europe. We will continue to oppose the completion of this project, which would weaken European energy security and that of Ukraine and Eastern flank NATO and EU countries,” Blinken said.
Burt has given to both sides of the aisle though he seems to favor Dems.
BURT, RICHARD FRIENDS OF DON BEYER DC MCLARTY ASSOCIATES 02/04/2021 $500.00
BURT, RICHARD FRIENDS OF DON BEYER DC MCLARTY ASSOCIATES 02/04/2021 $500.00
BURT, RICHARD BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT DC MCLARTY ASSOCIATES 10/27/2020 $1,000.00
BURT, RICHARD BIDEN VICTORY FUND DC MCLARTY ASSOCIATES 10/27/2020 $1,000.00
BURT, RICHARD BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT DC MCLARTY ASSOCIATES 10/18/2020 $1,000.00
BURT, RICHARD BIDEN VICTORY FUND DC MCLARTY ASSOCIATES 10/18/2020 $1,000.00
BURT, RICHARD UNITE THE COUNTRY DC MCLARTY ASSOCIATES 03/05/2020 $10,000.00
BURT, RICHARD SCHIFF FOR CONGRESS DC MCLARTY ASSOCIATES 03/27/2019 $2,800.00
BURT, RICHARD JEFF FLAKE FOR US SENATE INC DC MCLARTY ASSOCIATES 08/31/2017 $1,000.00
BURT, RICHARD REINVENTING A NEW DIRECTION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE DC MCLARTY ASSOCIATES 08/12/2015 $1,900.00
BURT, RICHARD RAND PAUL FOR US SENATE DC MCLARTY ASSOCIATES 08/12/2015 $2,700.00
BURT, RICHARD RAND PAUL FOR US SENATE DC MCLARTY ASSOCIATES 08/12/2015 $2,700.00
Biden received funds from Russian lobbyist before conceding on major pipeline: Report https://t.co/39vSq1QfME
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 30, 2021