Trump transition appears to have flouted internal ethics rule on lobbyists

Trump transition appears to have flouted internal ethics rule on lobbyists

A copy of the transition team's code of ethics includes a rule barring lobbyists with overlapping work.

By Isaac Arnsdorf

11/16/16 01:05 PM EST


Donald Trump’s transition team appears to have deviated from its own ethics rule barring lobbyists whose work for Trump would overlap with any matters on which they lobbied in the previous year.

According to a copy of Trump for America Inc’s “Code of Ethical Conduct” obtained by POLITICO, members of the transition team must pledge to “disqualify myself from involvement in any particular transition matter if I have engaged in regulated lobbying activities with respect to such matter, as defined by the Lobbying Disclosure Act, within the previous 12 months.”

But at least eight transition team members have done work that appears to flout that internal rule, Senate records show.

Steve Hart, the chairman of Williams & Jensen who was tasked with the handoff of the Labor Department, lobbied on labor issues for Anthem, Brinks and Smithfield Foods as recently as September.

Michael McKenna, who has been running the Energy Department transition, is a lobbyist at MWR Strategies for French utility Engie (formerly GDF Suez) and power provider Southern Company.

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck's David Bernhardt, charged with the Department of Interior, lobbied that agency on behalf of Westlands Water District.

Jim Carter, the in-house lobbyist for manufacturing company Emerson, has been in charge of tax reform even though he lobbied on taxation issues as recently as September.

Michael Catanzaro, a lobbyist at CGCN for the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, Hess, Encana, Noble Energy and Devon Energy, was made responsible for energy independence. Working with him was Mike Ference, a lobbyist at S-3 Group for Halliburton, Koch Industries and Marathon Oil.

Martin Whitmer was charged with transportation and infrastructure even though he is a registered lobbyist at Whitmer & Worrall for the American Association of Railroads, the National Asphalt Pavement Association and the Utilities Technology Council.


Michael Torrey was put in charge of the Department of Agriculture even though he lobbied the USDA as recently as September on behalf of Little Caesars, Dean Foods, the American Beverage Association and the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau.

These lobbyists and the Trump transition did not answer requests for comment.

[link to www.politico.com]