The former "conscience of the Senate" has been hired to represent China's ZTE telecommunications company, which is basically a front organization for Chinese intelligence services. ZTE is under pressure in light of overdue U.S. government efforts to prevent it from entrenching a stronger position in the U.S. economy. With the U.S. now in a new cold war with Beijing, no former U.S. official, let alone a foreign policy hawk like Lieberman, should be serving ZTE.
While Lieberman will reportedly register as a lobbyist (he has to, legally), he claims that he isn't actually going to lobby. Instead, Lieberman says, "I’m really supposed to be listening and asking questions."
Pardon our skepticism. Politico reports that Lieberman has already "made a bunch of phone calls and visited Capitol Hill twice in the last two weeks to meet with members of Congress who have spoken out against ZTE or are leaders of relevant committees." Let's be clear, when you are paying former members of Congress to ask "questions" on your behalf, you expect your questions to navigate the halls of power. Here, the questioner is far more important than the question itself.
Joe Lieberman, former 'conscience of the Senate,' becomes a Chinese agent
While Lieberman will reportedly register as a lobbyist (he has to, legally), he claims that he isn't actually going to lobby. Instead, Lieberman says, "I’m really supposed to be listening and asking questions."
Pardon our skepticism. Politico reports that Lieberman has already "made a bunch of phone calls and visited Capitol Hill twice in the last two weeks to meet with members of Congress who have spoken out against ZTE or are leaders of relevant committees." Let's be clear, when you are paying former members of Congress to ask "questions" on your behalf, you expect your questions to navigate the halls of power. Here, the questioner is far more important than the question itself.
Joe Lieberman, former 'conscience of the Senate,' becomes a Chinese agent
