Tony Podesta pulls in $1 million lobbying White House on behalf of Huawei
The Biden administration called Huawei a 'national security threat' last month
Larry Kudlow discusses the threat from China and Huawei
FOX Business host discusses how the Trump administration worked with allies to push back against Huawei and the Chinese Communist Party.
Tony Podesta made $1 million lobbying the White House on behalf of Chinese telecommunications company Huawei, public disclosure forms show.
Podesta earned $500,000 lobbying the "Executive Office of the President" on "Issues related to telecommunication services and impacted trade issues" in the fourth quarter of 2021, the New York Post reported, citing public disclosure forms released last week. He pulled in another $500,000 from Huawei to lobby the "White House Office" on "Issues related to telecommunication services and impacted trade issues" in the third quarter of 2021.
TONY PODESTA PAID $500K BY HUAWEI TO LOBBY WHITE HOUSE, DISCLOSURE SHOWS
Tony Podesta is the older brother of John Podesta, who served as the chairman of Hillary Clinton’s failed 2016 presidential run and as an adviser to President Barack Obama and chief of staff to President Bill Clinton.
Tony Podesta in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 2, 2011. (Rebecca D'Angelo/For the Washington Post / Getty Images)
The FCC designated Huawei a national security threat in 2020 due to its "close ties to the Chinese Communist Party and China’s military apparatus," according to former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, FOX Business previously reported.
The Trump administration also persuaded countries such as Australia and Japan to ban Huawei in 5G projects due to fears it would aid China in surveilling abroad.
Huawei has denied working closely with the Chinese government, arguing it is only a supplier of tech resources. A report from the Washington Post last month, however, detailed internal documents from the company showing how it surveils Chinese citizens and political dissidents.
BIDEN ADMIN SAYS HUAWEI IS 'NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT'
The Biden administration described the Chinese company as "a national security threat" after the Washington Post report was published.
President Joe Biden waves as he exits Air Force One on Oct. 5, 2021, in Lansing, Michigan. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci / AP Newsroom)
BIDEN COMMERCE NOMINEE SIGNED AGREEMENT THAT CLEARED HUAWEI CFO OF FRAUD CHARGES
"I don’t have a comment on the specifics of this report but President Biden and the administration continue to believe Huawei is a national security threat," a National Security Council spokesperson told Fox in December. "That is why it remains on the entity list and why this administration designated it under E.O. 14032 for operating in the defense and related [material] and/or surveillance technology sectors of the PRC economy."
Podesta was hired by Huawei over the summer to assist the company with "[t]elecommunications and trade issues," after leaving lobbying for the art world following Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation during the Trump administration.
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The White House did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment on the public disclosure forms.