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| Michael Esposito |
Huawei, the world’s largest telecommunications gear maker and suspected spying tool of the Chinese government, has hired Federal Advocates Inc., a top Republican firm, for DC representation.
The Commerce Dept. in May slapped sanctions on Huawei that bar it from purchasing American telecom components.
The Wall Street Journal published a blockbuster on Aug. 14, reporting that Huawei equipment, which is dominant in Africa, is used by African leaders to spy on political opponents.
FAI founder/CEO Michael Esposito leads the push for Huawei. His mission is to handle telecommunications issues before the Trump administration.
He’s a member of the Republican National Committee chairman’s advisory board, where he advises chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, and serves on the Trump Victory Finance Committee.
FAI made a splash in February in hiring Jennifer Arangio, who was senior director of the National Security Council, as VP.
At that time, she was the highest-ranking female former Trump official to join a K Street firm.
Politico reported that Arangio was ousted from the NSC in July 2018 for skirmishing with top White House aide Stephen Miller.
Tencent America, which is part of the Chinese video and electronic giant, has hired Mercury Public Affairs for Washington representation.
Nick Pearson, who was director of Congressional affairs at Google Cloud, has joined First Energy as VP-federal government affairs.
Nvidia, the leader in AI chips and member of Wall Street’s “Magnificent Seven” stock group, has registered as a DC lobbyist.
Trump-tied Ballard Partners has signed to represent the Public Broadcasting Service on issues related to funding and dealing with Elon Musk’s Dept. of Government Efficiency.
Greg Walden, former chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, reps Constellation, which is the nation's No. 1 producer of carbon-free electricity.
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