HuffPost: Manafort Is Tiny Part of DC Lobbying Corruption

Foreign governments make their preferences known about leaders of other nations, with some attempting to influence policies and even elections. Paul Manafort, the former chairman of the Trump campaign, has been found guilty of five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failure to disclose a foreign bank account. The jury could not reach a decision on 10 other counts. Meanwhile, Manafort faces a second trial in September for failing to register as a foreign agent after working for a Ukrainian political party with ties to Russia. Manafort’s case exposes the revolving door between government service and lobbying as three other men – Tony Podesta, Vin Weber and Greg Craig – are being investigated for failure to register as foreign agents. Corporations have actively lobbied the US government since the 1970s when the government created government bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency to enforce regulations. Paul Blumenthal urges new laws to control the multimillion dollar lobbying industry. “There is no legislation on the agenda to slow the still-growing influence industry in Washington,” he writes for HuffPost. “Those who made lobbying a permanent presence may go to jail or see their careers collapse, but the business of lobbying persists.” – YaleGlobal