• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 969 0

in the US Senate, including six years as the Senate majority leader, and has since earned an unsurpassed reputation in the field of international diplomacy as an individual with an extraordinary ability to help resolve difficult international disputes. He is widely respected by US political figures in both parties and is known and trusted by many of the world’s diplomatic and political leaders.

Congressman Dick Armey was recognized during his 18 years in national political office for his fairness and his ability to build consensus among parties with conflicting objectives…

Secretary William Cohen has had a long and distinguished career in Washington, including eight years as a Republican congressman and 18 years as a Republican senator, before being chosen by President Bill Clinton to lead the Department of Defense. As secretary of defense from 1997–2001, Secretary Cohen oversaw US military operations on every continent and held substantive meetings with foreign leaders in over 60 countries.351

Long after Mitchell left DLA Piper for the State Department, the firm’s Web site still refers to him as “Chairman Emeritus.” It’s clear that Mitchell is still a big deal at the firm—that even his name alone carries a lot of weight.

The firm also has other clients that may cause Mitchell problems. According to Bloomberg News, DLA Piper was paid another $2.29 in lobbying fees by clients focused on or headquartered in the Middle East, including two interested in “human rights” in Iran.352 In the past, the firm was hired by the Embassy of Turkey. In December 2008, the firm registered as a foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates.353 Based on public disclosures, DLA Piper also represented First Kuwait General Trading and Contracting for a $240,000 fee. The Lebanon Renaissance Institute paid a whopping $530,000 fee for lobbying services on “matters re: U.S. and Lebanon relations.” (The nonlobbyist George Mitchell is the son of Mary Saad, who emigrated to the United States from Lebanon when she was eighteen years old.)

DLA Piper also has offices and clients in Egypt, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Oman and an affiliation with a law firm in Saudi Arabia. Could this be a problem for the new Middle East envoy?

It’s something to think about.

The sheikh, Dubai, and the Embassy of Turkey were formally withdrawn as DLA Piper clients in a filing with the Justice Department just two days after Obama’s inauguration, when Mitchell’s new post had already been announced. Was this an attempt by Mitchell to distance himself and the firm from their longtime clients?

But DLA Piper was registered as a foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates in December 2008.

Coincidentally, Mitchell visited both Turkey and Abu Dhabi on his second trip to the Middle East, in February 2009. This was doubtless helpful to DLA Piper and its clients in the region—even though Mitchell did nothing to benefit them. Just being able to point to the enormous influence of their former partner (who might someday return) is valuable.

As a foreign envoy for the U.S. government, George Mitchell has a staggering number of potential conflicts of interests. Just look at the amazing scope of DLA Piper’s lobbying client list for 2008:

* * *

DLA PIPER LOBBYING CLIENTS AND FEES, 2008

Total Lobbying Income, 2008: $11,670,000

Client

Total

Akbar Nikooie (Iran human rights)*

$80,000

Amazon.com

$40,000

American Council of Life Insurers

$200,000

American International Group

$0

AON Corp.

$30,000

Arnouse Digital Devices

$0

Assn of Pool & Spa Professionals

$30,000

Bba Aviation Services Group

$10,000

BDO International

$0

BP

$0

Bristol-Myers Squibb

$20,000

Canfor Corp.

$880,000

Cape Wind Assoc

$120,000

Career Builder.com

$60,000

Charles Schwab & Co.

$40,000

Check Free Corp.

$0

Citizens Financial Group

$280,000

Comcast Corp.

$160,000

Corradino Group

$60,000

Dewey Square Group

$0

Diageo

$720,000

DLA Piper