 Tom Barrack |
Crisis and financial PR pro-Owen Blicksilver represents billionaire real estate developer Tom Barrack, as federal prosecutors probe whether foreign entities contributed to Donald Trump's inaugural committee and a pro-Trump political action committee.
Barrack, a dear friend of the president, headed both committees.
The New York Times reported today that investigators are examining whether high-rollers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates used straw donors to funnel money to the committees to buy influence over US policy.
American law prohibits foreign donations to federal campaigns, PACs and inaugural committees.
Barrack raised money for both committees but Blicksilver said his client never talked to any foreign person or entity for the purpose of generating money or making donations to the inauguration and PAC.
The Trump inaugural committee raised $107M, twice as much as President Obama's fund for his first inauguration, while the Rebuilding America Now PAC compiled a $23M war chest.
Grand Rapids-based Lambert, which recently changed its name from Lambert, Edwards Assocs. & Co., acquired Owen Blicksilver PR in April to spearhead its move into the New York financial PR arena.
The firm signed Blicksilver to a multi-year contract to serve as president of the unit that is known for its private equity, M&A, real estate, crisis, bankruptcy, litigation support and B2B marketing savvy.
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PR firms need to be mindful of ways their work product may be protected by the attorney-client privilege whenever working with a client’s internal legal team or its external legal counsel.
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