Schumer asks Justice Department to probe Grenell's consulting work

Schumer on Wednesday released a letter to John Demers, the assistant attorney general for national security, asking that he "immediately" open an investigation into reports that Grenell did not disclose the work, a potential violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

 

The New York Democrat is asking the Justice Department to determine whether Grenell violated federal law and, if so, refer him for "enforcement action consistent with Justice Department policies and without regard to any political considerations.""Any illegal activity would obviously disqualify him from serving as the Director of National Intelligence or in any other position of public trust," Schumer added.

 

CNN reported this week that before joining the Trump administration Grenell's company earned more than $100,000 from a foundation tied to the Hungarian government.

 

ProPublica also reported that Grenell, in 2016, wrote articles defending Vladimir Plahotniuc, a Moldovan politician, but did not register under FARA. Plahotniuc was sanctioned by the U.S. government last month.
Craig Engle, an attorney with the law firm Arent Fox LLP who told ProPublica he was responding on Grenell's behalf, said Grenell was not required to register under FARA “because he was not working at the direction of a foreign power.”

 

President TrumpDonald John TrumpMulvaney: 'We've overreacted a little bit' to coronavirus Former CBS News president: Most major cable news outlets 'unrelentingly liberal' in 'fear and loathing' of Trump An old man like me should be made more vulnerable to death by COVID-19 MORE last week tapped Grenell to take over for Joseph MaguireJoseph MaguireTop intel official leaving post Grenell announces creation of intelligence community 'cyber executive' Ratcliffe refuses to say whether Russian election interference favored Trump MORE as acting DNI, prompting fierce attacks from Democrats and other critics who argue that his appointment was based solely on loyalty and not experience in intelligence matters. Grenell, a vocal Trump supporter, previously served as a spokesman for the United Nations.

 

Schumer, in his letter, also questioned whether Grenell misled the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his confirmation hearing to be ambassador to Germany about whether he was paid for the op-eds.

 

Sen. Ben CardinBenjamin (Ben) Louis CardinThis week: Surveillance fight sets early test for House's proxy voting GOP faces internal conflicts on fifth coronavirus bill Senate leaves for break without passing Paycheck Protection Program fix MORE (D-Md.) asked Grenell as part of written questions if he was paid for writing the opinion pieces, including those relating to Moldova. Grenell said in his written response that he did not receive any compensation for the work and that the op-eds were not written at the direction of someone else.