A lobbying firm run by one of Donald Trump Jnr’s hunting buddies helped a Chinese company make its case to the US national security agency, public files show.
The case involved an American establishment that wanted the Chinese company to be removed as one of its investors. The agency rejected a U.S. company’s request for a national security review of the Chinese company’s investment, according to a document seen by Reuters, giving a Chinese company in Washington a rare victory. The decision has not been previously reported.
Lobbying firm Checkmate helped a lawyer for China’s Grand Pharmaceutical Group hold a meeting with the head of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) in early January, according to two people familiar with the matter. During the meeting, the lawyer claimed that the case was a commercial dispute with no national security implications, one of the people said.
In late January, the watchdog rejected a filing by Minnesota-based FastWave on grounds unrelated to national security, partnering with a Chinese company, according to a document seen by Reuters.
FastWave, which received calls from CFIUS staff instead of senior officials that month, has been brought to the brink of bankruptcy, the company told CFIUS.
Reuters could not determine whether the meeting initiated by Checkmate played a role in the CFIUS decision. There was no indication that Donald Trump Jnr, the eldest son of US President Donald Trump, was involved. A representative for Donald Trump Jnr did not respond to requests for comment.
