Difference between revisions of "Barbour Griffith and Rogers International"

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'''Barbour Griffith &amp; Rogers''' is a Washington, DC-based lobbying company that boasts that it is "performance based: a proactive, creative approach to solving problems and aggressively seeking results". <ref>[http://www.bgrdc.com/approach.html]
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'''Barbour Griffith &amp; Rogers''', LLC (BGR) is a Washington, DC-based lobbying company, which was described as "all-Republican" in 2007.<ref>Lobbyists struggling after Democratic win, Financial Times, 13-Apr-2007</ref> It describes itself as "performance based" and that it can offer "a proactive, creative approach to solving problems and aggressively seeking results". <ref>[http://www.bgrdc.com/profile.asp Profile Approach] (Accessed: 3 October 2007 NB: the statement quoted is no longer on its current website)</ref>; and as 'a premier strategic consulting and government affairs firm in the United States and worldwide'<ref>Barbour Griffith and Rogers International [http://www.bgrdc.com/international.asp International] Accessed 12th March 2008</ref>.  
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Its sister company in Europe is [[BGR Gabara]], based in London. It specializes in pan-European government relations services, principally in London and Brussels; media relations across Europe; political campaign management; and financial services communications.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
  
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The company was founded in 1991. On its website it states "our firm is actively involved in the shaping of public policy issues that dominate the American political and corporate agenda. We serve as advocates in federal government relations, a vital link to state governments, and an ally in business development anywhere in the U.S. and in markets around the world." [http://www.bgrdc.com/about.html].
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The company was founded in 1991. On its website it states "our firm is actively involved in the shaping of public policy issues that dominate the American political and corporate agenda. We serve as advocates in federal government relations, a vital link to state governments, and an ally in business development anywhere in the U.S. and in markets around the world." <ref>[http://www.bgrdc.com/about.html]</ref>.
  
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In a profile on the company and its strong connections with the Republican Party, Thomas B. Edsall wrote in the ''Washington Post'' that "in less than a decade, the Barbour Griffith & Rogers lobbying shop has become one of the most
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In a profile on the company and its strong connections with the Republican Party, Thomas B. Edsall wrote in the ''Washington Post'' that "in less than a decade, the BGR lobbying shop has become one of the most
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profitable operations in Washington". <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11277-2004Jan12.html]</ref>
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profitable operations in Washington".<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11277-2004Jan12.html] (No longer accessibel online)</ref>
  
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According to Haley Barbour, who was sworn in as the Governor of Mississippi in January 2004, the firm was sold to the [[Interpublic Group of Companies]] in 1999. Part of the sale deal was that the name remain the same even though Barbour no longer had a financial stake in the company. <ref>[http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/state/7713777.htm]</ref>
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According to Haley Barbour, who was sworn in as the Governor of Mississippi in January 2004, the firm was sold to the [[Interpublic Group of Companies]] in 1999. Part of the sale deal was that the name remain the same even though Barbour no longer had a financial stake in the company. <ref>[http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/state/7713777.htm] (No longer accessible online)</ref>
  
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However in June 2004 ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'' reported that BG&R was discussing buying a controlling interest in itself back from Interpublic. It reported that "the former Republican National Committee chairman has put his stake in BG&R into a blind trust. He has said that he isn't sure whether he will return to BG&R after he leaves office." [http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2004/june/0601bgr.htm]
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However in June 2004 ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'' reported that BG&R was discussing buying a controlling interest in itself back from Interpublic. It reported that "the former Republican National Committee chairman has put his stake in BG&R into a blind trust. He has said that he isn't sure whether he will return to BG&R after he leaves office."<ref>[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2004/june/0601bgr.htm], O'Dwyers PR Daily, June 2004</ref>
  
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In a September 2003 article on his blogsite, Josh Marshall wrote that [[New Bridge Strategies]] - a company established to help clients win [[Iraq]] reconstruction contracts - "looks an awful lot like an outgrowth of Barbour Griffith and Rogers". [http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/002005.html]
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In a September 2003 article on his blogsite, Josh Marshall wrote that [[New Bridge Strategies]] - a company established to help clients win Iraq reconstruction contracts - "looks an awful lot like an outgrowth of Barbour Griffith and Rogers".<ref>[http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/002005.html], Talking Points Memo, September 2003.</ref>
  
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In June 2004, ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'' reported BG&R recorded $1.6M in fees in 2003, according to ''Roll Call''. [http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2004/june/0601bgr.htm]
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In June 2004, ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'' reported BG&R recorded $1.6M in fees in 2003, according to ''Roll Call''.<ref>[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2004/june/0601bgr.htm], O'Dwyers PR Daily, June 2004.</ref>
  
 
==Clients==
 
==Clients==
 
===Domestic (U.S.)===
 
===Domestic (U.S.)===
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In May 2002, BG&R indicated that on behalf of Virginia-based [[United Defense]] it would lobby in favour of the Crusader $11 billion artillery system. Despite attending a strategy session in mid-May 2002, BG&R subsequently decided to drop the account. "The White House contacted BG&R when it heard that the firm was going to represent the Crusader. That contact resulted in BG&R dropping the account," ''O'Dwyers'' reported. [http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2002/may/0521crusader.htm]
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*In May 2002, BG&R indicated that on behalf of Virginia-based [[United Defense]] it would lobby in favour of the Crusader $11 billion artillery system. Despite attending a strategy session in mid-May 2002, BG&R subsequently decided to drop the account. "The White House contacted BG&R when it heard that the firm was going to represent the Crusader. That contact resulted in BG&R dropping the account," ''O'Dwyers'' reported.<ref>[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2002/may/0521crusader.htm],O'Dwyers PR Daily, May 2002</ref>
  
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In October 2002, Haley Barbour headed up a team "on corporate governance issues" for Citigroup, with assistance with Jennifer Larkin, Dan Murphy and Loren Monroe. "Citigroup's Salomon Smith Barney brokerage house faces various probes concerning potential analysts' conflict of interest and how it allocated shares in initial public offerings. On October 14, Citicorp denied charges in a lawsuit filed by New York State Comptroller Carl McCall - who is also running for Governor - that its Travelers insurance unit made improper loans to Bernie Ebbers, the former CEO of WorldCom," ''O'Dwyers'' reported. <ref>[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2002/october/1017bgr.htm]</ref>
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*In October 2002, Haley Barbour headed up a team "on corporate governance issues" for Citigroup, with assistance with Jennifer Larkin, Dan Murphy and Loren Monroe. "Citigroup's Salomon Smith Barney brokerage house faces various probes concerning potential analysts' conflict of interest and how it allocated shares in initial public offerings. On October 14, Citicorp denied charges in a lawsuit filed by New York State Comptroller Carl McCall - who is also running for Governor - that its Travelers insurance unit made improper loans to Bernie Ebbers, the former CEO of WorldCom," ''O'Dwyers'' reported. <ref>[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2002/october/1017bgr.htm], O'Dwyers PR Daily, October 2002.</ref>
  
 
===International===
 
===International===
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In June 2002, '''O'Dwyers PR Daily'' reported that BG&R had gained a $30,000-a-month contract with the Embassy of [[Bolivia]] "to deal with tactical planning, trade and appropriations matters." The BG&R team was headed by Barbour and also included [[Keith Schuette]], "a former president of the [[International Republican Institute]], and [[Scott Barnhart]]. "Bolivia scored a coup on the trade front as Congress agreed to reduce tariffs on canned tuna, textiles and cut flowers to encourage it, [[Colombia]], [[Ecuador]] and [[Peru]] to fight the drug trade," reported ''O'Dwyer's''. [http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2002/june/0606bolivia.htm]
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*In June 2002, '''O'Dwyers PR Daily'' reported that BG&R had gained a $30,000-a-month contract with the Embassy of Bolivia "to deal with tactical planning, trade and appropriations matters." The BG&R team was headed by Barbour and also included [[Keith Schuette]], "a former president of the [[International Republican Institute]], and [[Scott Barnhart]]. "Bolivia scored a coup on the trade front as Congress agreed to reduce tariffs on canned tuna, textiles and cut flowers to encourage it, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to fight the drug trade," reported ''O'Dwyer's''. <ref>[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2002/june/0606bolivia.htm], O'Dwyers PR Daily, June 2002.</ref>
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*In July 2004, the [[Kurdish Democratic Party]] retained BG&R, "to ensure that Iraqi Kurdistan maintains its autonomy from Baghdad in the new Iraq Government" and for the "return of oil-rich Kirkuk, which Saddam Hussein had "Arabized" as the capital of the region, to Kurdistan." <ref>[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0716barzani.htm], O'Dwyers PR Daily, July 2004.</ref>
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*In February 2005, ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'' reported that the government of Qatar had "hired Barbour Griffith & Rogers to a $300K pact to smooth relations with the Bush Administration." <ref>[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/washington_report/2005/0201qatar.htm], O'Dwyers PR Daily, February 2005.</ref>
  
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In July 2004, the [[Kurdish Democratic Party]] retained BG&R, "to ensure that Iraqi Kurdistan maintains its autonomy from Baghdad in the new Iraq Government" and for the "return of oil-rich Kirkuk, which Saddam Hussein had "Arabized" as the capital of the region, to Kurdistan." [http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0716barzani.htm]
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*In August 2006, the ''Washington Post'' reported that BG&R was working for the "[[National Dialogue Party]] of Lebanon and its chairman, [[Fouad Makhzoumi]]. The Republican shop registered to lobby for the Lebanese party in mid-June, with an effective start date of April 15." After armed hostilities between the Israeli government and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militia began in July 2006, BG&R started promoting "Makhzoumi's message of support for a cease-fire and a diplomatic solution to policymakers in Washington." The contract totaled $300,000 over six months. <ref>Judy Sarasohn, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/02/AR2006080201653.html Clients Don't Come Much Hotter], Washington Post, 3 August 2006. (Accessed: 3 October 2007)</ref>
  
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In February 2005, ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'' reported that the government of Qatar had "hired Barbour Griffith & Rogers to a $300K pact to smooth relations with the Bush Administration." [http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/washington_report/2005/0201qatar.htm]
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*BG&R had also registered with the State Department "to 'provide guidance and counsel' on foreign policy to the embassy of Eritrea. That contract, which paid $65,000 a month for six months, or a total of $390,000, expired last month," the ''Washington Post'' reported in August 2006.<ref>Sarasohn, ibid.</ref>
  
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In August 2006, the ''Washington Post'' reported that BG&R was working for the "[[National Dialogue Party]] of Lebanon and its chairman, [[Fouad Makhzoumi]]. The Republican shop registered to lobby for the Lebanese party in mid-June, with an effective start date of April 15." After armed hostilities between the Israeli government and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militia began in July 2006, BG&R started promoting "Makhzoumi's message of support for a cease-fire and a diplomatic solution to policymakers in Washington." The contract totaled $300,000 over six months. <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/02/AR2006080201653.html]</ref>
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*BG&R landed a $60,000 a month contract to represent [[Serbia]]. The contract, which was signed by Serbia's Minister for International Economic Relations, Milan Parivodic, runs until January 2009. Serbia has been criticised for being half-hearted in its coperation with investigations into war crimes committed during the 1990's.<ref>[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0928bgr_serbia.htm] (subscription required)</ref>
  
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BG&R had also registered with the State Department "to 'provide guidance and counsel' on foreign policy to the embassy of [[Eritrea]]. That contract, which paid $65,000 a month for six months, or a total of $390,000, expired last month," the ''Washington Post'' reported in August 2006.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/02/AR2006080201653.html]</ref>
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*British PR consultant, [[Alan Kilkenny]] has also been a client of BG&R since 2005. According to the FT (US), he has paid the Washington firm $1.34m since 2005 to lobby the US Justice Department and lawmakers on "judicial procedure and policy". Kilkenny counts among his London clients [[Lord Ashcroft]], and Stanley and Beatrice Tollman, who were branded fugitives in the US after they left the country following their indictment on fraud and tax evasion charges. The couple also faced the threat of being extradited to the US. In December 2008 it was reported that Stanley Tollman pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and agreed to pay a total of $105 million to settle various fraud charges related to the multimillion-dollar tax evasion scheme.<ref>[http://www.palmbeachpost.com/local_news/content/local_news/epaper/2008/12/10/1210tollman.html Palm Beach Post], 10 Dec 2008</ref> The FT commented: "It is unusual for a firm such as BGR, which does not have any expertise in criminal justice matters, to lobby prosecutors or other officials on a criminal matter."<ref>[http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto041320071559502073&page=2 Lobbyists struggling after Democratic win, Financial Times, 13-Apr-2007</ref>
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*[[Government of the State of Qatar]] has been a client since 2009. In 2013 Qatar paid a total of  $332,286.06
  
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BG&R landed a $60,000 a month contract to represent [[Serbia]]. The contract, which was signed by Serbia's Minister for International Economic Relations, Milan Parivodic, runs until January 2009. Serbia has been criticised for being half-hearted in its coperation with investigations into war crimes committed during the 1990's.<ref>[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0928bgr_serbia.htm] (subscription required)</ref>
 
  
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===Client List===
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$332,286.06
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Information
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==Lobbying for India==
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The Washington Post on 30 September 2007 reports:
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:The nuclear deal has been pushed aggressively by well-funded groups representing industry in both countries. At the center of the lobbying effort has been Robert D. Blackwill, a former U.S. ambassador to India and deputy national security adviser who's now with a well-connected Republican lobbying firm, Barbour, Griffith &amp; Rogers LLC. The firm's Web site touts Blackwill as a pillar of its "India Practice," along with a more recent hire, Philip D. Zelikow, a former top adviser to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who was also one of the architects of the Bush administration's tilt toward India. The Confederation of Indian Industry paid Blackwill to lobby various U.S. government entities, according to the Boston Globe. And India is also paying a major Beltway law firm, Venable LLP.<ref>Mira Kamdar, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/28/AR2007092801350.html Forget the Israel Lobby. The Hill's Next Big Player Is Made in India], 30 September 2007</ref>
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==Clients==
 
<table border="1" bgcolor="white" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="80%" align="center">
 
<table border="1" bgcolor="white" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="80%" align="center">
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
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<td>[[MassMutual Financial Group]]</td>
 
<td>[[MassMutual Financial Group]]</td>
 
<td>[[MedCath]]</td>
 
<td>[[MedCath]]</td>
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<td>The National Dialogue Party of Lebanon and its chairman, Fouad Makhzoumi<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/02/AR2006080201653.html]</ref></td>
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<td>The National Dialogue Party of Lebanon</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
  
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===Former Clients===
 
===Former Clients===
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*Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/04/02/2003248747]  In April 2007, ''O'Dwyer's PR Daily'' reported that "Taiwan has ended its PR contract with Barbour Griffith & Rogers, a year before the three-year pact was set to expire." [http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0409taiwan_barbour.htm]
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*Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs<ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/04/02/2003248747]</ref> In April 2007, ''O'Dwyer's PR Daily'' reported that "Taiwan has ended its PR contract with Barbour Griffith & Rogers, a year before the three-year pact was set to expire."<ref>[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0409taiwan_barbour.htm]</ref>
  
 
==Political contributions==
 
==Political contributions==
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*[[Keith E. Schuette]], Director of International Affairs
 
*[[Keith E. Schuette]], Director of International Affairs
 
*[[Bill Stiers]], Associate
 
*[[Bill Stiers]], Associate
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==Connections==
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:Ed Rogers is vice-chair [[New Bridge Strategies]] and [[Diligence]]. He is also the co-founder of [[Barbour, Griffith and Rogers]], the initial funder of Diligence and shares their floor with New Bridge in their DC office four blocks from the White House.<ref>[http://www.cestmoicitizenmedia.com/?p=265 The Incestuous Puppet Masters Behind Freedom’s Watch] On September 07, 2007</ref>
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==Allegations of Criminal Activities==
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BGR is reported to have been 'embroiled in litigation involving allegations that the firm and [[Diligence]] LLC, one of BGR's offshoots, engaged in corporate espionage on behalf of the [[Alfa Group]], one of BGR's biggest clients'<ref>Toensing, G. C. (2007) [http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096414950 Barbour, Griffith and Roger in the spotlight] <i>Indian Country Today</i> 30th April 2007. Accessed 12th March 2008</ref>. Diligence stood accused of impersonating intelligence agents to illegally obtain information on an IPOC audit.
  
 
==References, Resources and Contact==
 
==References, Resources and Contact==
 
===Contact information===
 
===Contact information===
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Barbour Griffith & Rogers  
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:Barbour Griffith &amp; Rogers  
 
:Tenth Floor 1275 Pennsylvania Ave, NW  
 
:Tenth Floor 1275 Pennsylvania Ave, NW  
 
:Washington, DC 20004  
 
:Washington, DC 20004  
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:Email: information@bgrdc.com
 
:Email: information@bgrdc.com
 
:Web: [http://www.bgrdc.com www.bgrdc.com]
 
:Web: [http://www.bgrdc.com www.bgrdc.com]
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===References===
 
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<references />
 
  
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===External Links===
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===See also===
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*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2002/may/0521crusader.htm BG&R Shoots Down Crusader After Two Days]", ''O'Dwyer PR Daily'', May 21, 2002.(subscription required).
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*[[Diligence]]
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*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2002/june/0606bolivia.htm Bolivia Inks Deal with BG&R]", ''O'Dwyer PR Daily'', June 6, 2002.(subscription required).
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*[[New Bridge Strategies]]
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*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2002/october/1017bgr.htm Citigroup Hires BG&R]", ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'', October 17, 2002.(subscription required).
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*[[Freedom's Watch]]
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*Josh Marshall, "[http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/002005.html Crony-palooza!]", September 26, 2003.
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===Resources===
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*Thomas B. Edsall, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11277-2004Jan12.html Another Lobbyist Emerges From the GOP Trenches]", ''Washington Post'', January 13, 2004, Page A15.
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*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2002/may/0521crusader.htm BG&R Shoots Down Crusader After Two Days]", ''O'Dwyer PR Daily'', 21 May 2002.(subscription required).
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*Emily Wagster Pettus, "[http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/state/7713777.htm Barbour's name to remain with his former Washington lobbying firm], Associated Press, January 15, 2004.
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*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2002/june/0606bolivia.htm Bolivia Inks Deal with BG&R]", ''O'Dwyer PR Daily'', 6 June 2002.(subscription required).
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*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2002/october/1017bgr.htm Citigroup Hires BG&R]", ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'', 17 October 2002.(subscription required).
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*Josh Marshall, "[http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/002005.html Crony-palooza!]", 26 September 2003.
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*Thomas B. Edsall, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11277-2004Jan12.html Another Lobbyist Emerges From the GOP Trenches]", ''Washington Post'', 13 January 2004, Page A15.
 +
*Emily Wagster Pettus, "[http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/state/7713777.htm Barbour's name to remain with his former Washington lobbying firm], Associated Press, 15 January 2004.
 
*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2004/june/0601bgr.htm BG&R Nears Buyback]", ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'', 1 June 2004. (subscription required).
 
*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/archived_stories_2004/june/0601bgr.htm BG&R Nears Buyback]", ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'', 1 June 2004. (subscription required).
 
*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0716barzani.htm Kurds Want To Be Left Alone]," ''O'Dwyer's PR Daily'', 16 July 2004. (subscription required).
 
*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0716barzani.htm Kurds Want To Be Left Alone]," ''O'Dwyer's PR Daily'', 16 July 2004. (subscription required).
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*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0622pbs_bgr.htm PBS Relies on BG&R]," ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'' (subscription required), 22 June 2006.(subscription required).
 
*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0622pbs_bgr.htm PBS Relies on BG&R]," ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'' (subscription required), 22 June 2006.(subscription required).
 
*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0719lebanon_bgr.htm BG&R Reps Lebanese Party]", ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'', 19 July 2006. (subscription required).
 
*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0719lebanon_bgr.htm BG&R Reps Lebanese Party]", ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'', 19 July 2006. (subscription required).
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*Judy Sarasohn, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/02/AR2006080201653.html Clients Don't Come Much Hotter]," ''Washington Post'', 3 August 2006.
 
 
*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0928bgr_serbia.htm BG&R Buffs Serbia's Image]", ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'', 28 September 2006.
 
*"[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0928bgr_serbia.htm BG&R Buffs Serbia's Image]", ''O'Dwyers PR Daily'', 28 September 2006.
 
*Christina Davidson, [http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/4040/subscriptions/splash.html Fmr Bush Iraq Envoy Helping Undermine Maliki.  As Bush Voices Support for the Iraqi PM, Republican Lobbyists Aid Top Maliki Foe], IraqSlogger, 23 August 2007.
 
*Christina Davidson, [http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/4040/subscriptions/splash.html Fmr Bush Iraq Envoy Helping Undermine Maliki.  As Bush Voices Support for the Iraqi PM, Republican Lobbyists Aid Top Maliki Foe], IraqSlogger, 23 August 2007.
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===References===
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<references/>
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[[Category:Lobbying firms]]

Latest revision as of 13:20, 24 October 2014

Barbour Griffith & Rogers, LLC (BGR) is a Washington, DC-based lobbying company, which was described as "all-Republican" in 2007.[1] It describes itself as "performance based" and that it can offer "a proactive, creative approach to solving problems and aggressively seeking results". [2]; and as 'a premier strategic consulting and government affairs firm in the United States and worldwide'[3].

Its sister company in Europe is BGR Gabara, based in London. It specializes in pan-European government relations services, principally in London and Brussels; media relations across Europe; political campaign management; and financial services communications.

History

The company was founded in 1991. On its website it states "our firm is actively involved in the shaping of public policy issues that dominate the American political and corporate agenda. We serve as advocates in federal government relations, a vital link to state governments, and an ally in business development anywhere in the U.S. and in markets around the world." [4].

In a profile on the company and its strong connections with the Republican Party, Thomas B. Edsall wrote in the Washington Post that "in less than a decade, the BGR lobbying shop has become one of the most profitable operations in Washington".[5]

According to Haley Barbour, who was sworn in as the Governor of Mississippi in January 2004, the firm was sold to the Interpublic Group of Companies in 1999. Part of the sale deal was that the name remain the same even though Barbour no longer had a financial stake in the company. [6]

However in June 2004 O'Dwyers PR Daily reported that BG&R was discussing buying a controlling interest in itself back from Interpublic. It reported that "the former Republican National Committee chairman has put his stake in BG&R into a blind trust. He has said that he isn't sure whether he will return to BG&R after he leaves office."[7]

In a September 2003 article on his blogsite, Josh Marshall wrote that New Bridge Strategies - a company established to help clients win Iraq reconstruction contracts - "looks an awful lot like an outgrowth of Barbour Griffith and Rogers".[8]

In June 2004, O'Dwyers PR Daily reported BG&R recorded $1.6M in fees in 2003, according to Roll Call.[9]

Clients

Domestic (U.S.)

  • In May 2002, BG&R indicated that on behalf of Virginia-based United Defense it would lobby in favour of the Crusader $11 billion artillery system. Despite attending a strategy session in mid-May 2002, BG&R subsequently decided to drop the account. "The White House contacted BG&R when it heard that the firm was going to represent the Crusader. That contact resulted in BG&R dropping the account," O'Dwyers reported.[10]
  • In October 2002, Haley Barbour headed up a team "on corporate governance issues" for Citigroup, with assistance with Jennifer Larkin, Dan Murphy and Loren Monroe. "Citigroup's Salomon Smith Barney brokerage house faces various probes concerning potential analysts' conflict of interest and how it allocated shares in initial public offerings. On October 14, Citicorp denied charges in a lawsuit filed by New York State Comptroller Carl McCall - who is also running for Governor - that its Travelers insurance unit made improper loans to Bernie Ebbers, the former CEO of WorldCom," O'Dwyers reported. [11]

International

  • In June 2002, 'O'Dwyers PR Daily reported that BG&R had gained a $30,000-a-month contract with the Embassy of Bolivia "to deal with tactical planning, trade and appropriations matters." The BG&R team was headed by Barbour and also included Keith Schuette, "a former president of the International Republican Institute, and Scott Barnhart. "Bolivia scored a coup on the trade front as Congress agreed to reduce tariffs on canned tuna, textiles and cut flowers to encourage it, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to fight the drug trade," reported O'Dwyer's. [12]
  • In July 2004, the Kurdish Democratic Party retained BG&R, "to ensure that Iraqi Kurdistan maintains its autonomy from Baghdad in the new Iraq Government" and for the "return of oil-rich Kirkuk, which Saddam Hussein had "Arabized" as the capital of the region, to Kurdistan." [13]
  • In February 2005, O'Dwyers PR Daily reported that the government of Qatar had "hired Barbour Griffith & Rogers to a $300K pact to smooth relations with the Bush Administration." [14]
  • In August 2006, the Washington Post reported that BG&R was working for the "National Dialogue Party of Lebanon and its chairman, Fouad Makhzoumi. The Republican shop registered to lobby for the Lebanese party in mid-June, with an effective start date of April 15." After armed hostilities between the Israeli government and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militia began in July 2006, BG&R started promoting "Makhzoumi's message of support for a cease-fire and a diplomatic solution to policymakers in Washington." The contract totaled $300,000 over six months. [15]
  • BG&R had also registered with the State Department "to 'provide guidance and counsel' on foreign policy to the embassy of Eritrea. That contract, which paid $65,000 a month for six months, or a total of $390,000, expired last month," the Washington Post reported in August 2006.[16]
  • BG&R landed a $60,000 a month contract to represent Serbia. The contract, which was signed by Serbia's Minister for International Economic Relations, Milan Parivodic, runs until January 2009. Serbia has been criticised for being half-hearted in its coperation with investigations into war crimes committed during the 1990's.[17]
  • British PR consultant, Alan Kilkenny has also been a client of BG&R since 2005. According to the FT (US), he has paid the Washington firm $1.34m since 2005 to lobby the US Justice Department and lawmakers on "judicial procedure and policy". Kilkenny counts among his London clients Lord Ashcroft, and Stanley and Beatrice Tollman, who were branded fugitives in the US after they left the country following their indictment on fraud and tax evasion charges. The couple also faced the threat of being extradited to the US. In December 2008 it was reported that Stanley Tollman pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and agreed to pay a total of $105 million to settle various fraud charges related to the multimillion-dollar tax evasion scheme.[18] The FT commented: "It is unusual for a firm such as BGR, which does not have any expertise in criminal justice matters, to lobby prosecutors or other officials on a criminal matter."[19]
  • Government of the State of Qatar has been a client since 2009. In 2013 Qatar paid a total of $332,286.06


$332,286.06 Information

Lobbying for India

The Washington Post on 30 September 2007 reports:

The nuclear deal has been pushed aggressively by well-funded groups representing industry in both countries. At the center of the lobbying effort has been Robert D. Blackwill, a former U.S. ambassador to India and deputy national security adviser who's now with a well-connected Republican lobbying firm, Barbour, Griffith & Rogers LLC. The firm's Web site touts Blackwill as a pillar of its "India Practice," along with a more recent hire, Philip D. Zelikow, a former top adviser to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who was also one of the architects of the Bush administration's tilt toward India. The Confederation of Indian Industry paid Blackwill to lobby various U.S. government entities, according to the Boston Globe. And India is also paying a major Beltway law firm, Venable LLP.[20]

Clients

Akindale Farms Alliance For Quality Nursing Home Care American Maritime Congress
American Network Of Community Resources Antonov Aircraft Corporation BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc.
Better World Campaign Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Broadcast Music, Inc.
Brown & Williamson Corporation Canadian National Railway Camp Dresser & Mckee
Cobalt Corporation CollectCorp, Inc Commonwealth of Kentucky
Consolidated Contracting Company Darden Corporation Delta Air Lines
Embassy of Honduras Embassy of Eritrea [17] FM Policy Focus
GlaxoSmithKline Grocery Manufacturers Association Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation
I Can Learn, Inc. JohnsonDiversey Illinois State Board Of Education
Intelsat International Building Systems, LLC Lakeworth Drainage District
Lockheed Martin Lorillard Tobacco Company Lucent
MassMutual Financial Group MedCath The National Dialogue Party of Lebanon
Mortgage Insurance Companies of America Norilsk Nickel Orlando Regional Healthcare
Oxygenated Fuels Association PhRMA Pfizer, Inc.
Public Broadcasting Service [21] SAP Public Services, Inc. Serbia [22]
Southern Company State Street Corporation Triad
UnitedHealth Group University Of Mississippi University of Mississippi Medical Center
University of Southern Mississippi   
As listed on the company website January 2004, except where referenced: [23]

Former Clients

  • Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs[24] In April 2007, O'Dwyer's PR Daily reported that "Taiwan has ended its PR contract with Barbour Griffith & Rogers, a year before the three-year pact was set to expire."[25]

Political contributions

Lanny Griffith, Chief Executive Officer of Barbour, Griffith and Rogers, is a Bush Ranger having raised at least $200,000 for Bush in the 2004 presidential election. [26]

Barbour, Griffith and Rogers gave $73,603 to federal candidates in the 2006 election through its political action committee - 100% to Republicans. [27]

Personnel

Current staff: [28]

Former staff

Connections

Ed Rogers is vice-chair New Bridge Strategies and Diligence. He is also the co-founder of Barbour, Griffith and Rogers, the initial funder of Diligence and shares their floor with New Bridge in their DC office four blocks from the White House.[29]

Allegations of Criminal Activities

BGR is reported to have been 'embroiled in litigation involving allegations that the firm and Diligence LLC, one of BGR's offshoots, engaged in corporate espionage on behalf of the Alfa Group, one of BGR's biggest clients'[30]. Diligence stood accused of impersonating intelligence agents to illegally obtain information on an IPOC audit.

References, Resources and Contact

Contact information

Barbour Griffith & Rogers
Tenth Floor 1275 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Tel: (202)333 4936
Fax: (202)833 9392
Email: information@bgrdc.com
Web: www.bgrdc.com

See also

Resources

References

  1. ↑ Lobbyists struggling after Democratic win, Financial Times, 13-Apr-2007
  2. ↑ Profile Approach (Accessed: 3 October 2007 NB: the statement quoted is no longer on its current website)
  3. ↑ Barbour Griffith and Rogers International International Accessed 12th March 2008
  4. ↑ [1]
  5. ↑ [2] (No longer accessibel online)
  6. ↑ [3] (No longer accessible online)
  7. ↑ [4], O'Dwyers PR Daily, June 2004
  8. ↑ [5], Talking Points Memo, September 2003.
  9. ↑ [6], O'Dwyers PR Daily, June 2004.
  10. ↑ [7],O'Dwyers PR Daily, May 2002
  11. ↑ [8], O'Dwyers PR Daily, October 2002.
  12. ↑ [9], O'Dwyers PR Daily, June 2002.
  13. ↑ [10], O'Dwyers PR Daily, July 2004.
  14. ↑ [11], O'Dwyers PR Daily, February 2005.
  15. ↑ Judy Sarasohn, Clients Don't Come Much Hotter, Washington Post, 3 August 2006. (Accessed: 3 October 2007)
  16. ↑ Sarasohn, ibid.
  17. ↑ [12] (subscription required)
  18. ↑ Palm Beach Post, 10 Dec 2008
  19. ↑ [http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto041320071559502073&page=2 Lobbyists struggling after Democratic win, Financial Times, 13-Apr-2007
  20. ↑ Mira Kamdar, Forget the Israel Lobby. The Hill's Next Big Player Is Made in India, 30 September 2007
  21. ↑ [13]
  22. ↑ [14] (subscription required)
  23. ↑ Clients
  24. ↑ [15]
  25. ↑ [16]
  26. ↑ Lanny Griffith, Texans for Public Justice, accessed August 2007.
  27. ↑ 2006 PAC Summary Data, Open Secrets, accessed August 2007.
  28. ↑ Bios, Barbour, Griffith and Rogers, accessed August 2007.
  29. ↑ The Incestuous Puppet Masters Behind Freedom’s Watch On September 07, 2007
  30. ↑ Toensing, G. C. (2007) Barbour, Griffith and Roger in the spotlight Indian Country Today 30th April 2007. Accessed 12th March 2008
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