Trump-connected lobbyists reap windfall in COVID-19 boom

 Forty lobbyists with ties to President Donald Trump helped clients secure more than $10 billion in federal coronavirus aid, among m five former administration officials whose work potentially violates Trump's own ethics policy, according to a report.

lobbyists identified Monday by watchdog group Public Citizen eir worked in Trump executive branch, served on his campaign, were part of committee that raised money for inaugural festivities or were part of his presidential transition. Many are dors to Trump’s campaigns, and some are prolific fundraisers for his reelection.

y include Brian Ballard, who served on transition, is finance chair for Republican National Committee and has bundled more than $1 million for Trump's fundraising committees. He was hired in March by Laundrylux, a supplier of commercial laundry machines, after Department of Homeland Security issued guidance that didn't include laundromats as essential businesses that could stay open during lockdown. A week later, administration issued new guidance adding laundromats to list.

Dave Urban, a Trump adviser and confidant, has collected more than $2.3 million in lobbying fees this year. firm he leads, American Continental Group, represents 15 companies, including Walgreens and parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship, on coronavirus issues.

Trump pledged to clamp down on Washington's influence peddling with a “drain swamp” campaign mantra. But during his administration, lobbying industry has flourished, a trend that intensified once Congress passed more than $3.6 trillion in coronavirus stimulus .

While money is intended as a lifeline to a nation whose ecomy has been upended by pandemic, it also jump-started a familiar lobbying bonanza.

“ swamp is alive and well in Washington, D.C.,” said Mike Tanglis, one of report’s authors. “se (lobbying) booms that se people are having, you can really attribute m to ir connection to Trump.”

White House did t respond to a request for comment.

Shortly after Trump took office, he issued an executive order prohibiting former administration officials from lobbying ncy or office where y were formerly employed, for a period of five years. Ar section of order forbids lobbying administration by former political appointees for remainder of Trump's time in office.

Yet five lobbyists who are former administration officials have potentially done just that during coronavirus lobbying boom:

— Courtney Lawrence was a former deputy assistant secretary for legislation in Department of Health and Human Services in 2017 and 2018. She became a lobbyist for Cigna in 2018 and is listed as part of a team that has lobbied HHS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and at least two or ncies. Cigna did t respond to a request for comment.

— Shann McGahn, wife of former White House counsel Don McGahn , worked in 2017 and 2018 as a counselor to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. She n joined National Association of Realtors as its top lobbyist and is listed on disclosures as part of a team that has lobbied both houses of Congress, plus six ncies, including Treasury Department. Realtors association did t respond to a request for comment.

— Jordan Stoick is vice president of government relations at National Association of Manufacturers. Stoick’s biography on NAM’s website indicates that he is “NAM’s lead lobbyist in Washington," where he started working after serving as a senior adviser in Treasury Department. Disclosures indicate that Stoick and his colleagues lobbied both houses of Congress plus at least five executive branch ncies, including Treasury.

“NAM carefully adheres to legal and ethical rules regulating lobbying activity, including ensuring that its employees comply with all applicable prohibitions on contacting ir former employers," Linda Kelly, organization's general counsel, said in a statement.

— Geoffrey Burr joined firm Brownstein Hyatt after serving as chief of staff to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. firm’s lobbying disclosure for first quarter of 2020 includes Burr on a list of lobbyists who contacted White House and Congress on coronavirus-related matters on behalf of McDonald’s.

— Emily Felder joined Brownstein Hyatt after leaving Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, where she worked in legislative office. Felder is listed on a disclosure from first quarter of 2020 that shows she was part of a team that lobbied Congress and White House.

A spokeswoman for firm said both Felder and Burr abide by Trump administration's ethics rules, which limit ir lobbying to House and Senate.

“We are confident that our lobbyists are in compliance with all lobbying rules and applicable prohibitions and did t violate ir Trump Administration pledge," spokeswoman Lara Day said in a statement.

Public Citizen's Craig Holman, who himself is a registered lobbyist, said group intends to file ethics complaints with White House. But he's t optimistic that y will lead to anything. Last year, he filed more than 30 complaints, all of which were eir igred or rejected.

"re does t appear to be anyone who is enforcing executive order,” Holman said.