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Anonymous ID: 6bd60f June 5, 2019, 4:57 p.m. No.6681157   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>1172

State Dept. Forces Out Official Who Worked on Plan That Led to Ex-Employer’s Arms Deals

 

Ex-Raytheon outside lobbyist took part in department’s decision to fast-track sales, according to current and former U.S. officials

 

The State Department has forced out a senior official who played a role in crafting a plan that led to billions of dollars going to the defense firm he formerly represented as a lobbyist, according to current and former U.S. officials.

 

Charles Faulkner, who previously represented Raytheon Co., took part in an unusual Trump administration move to declare an emergency over tensions with Iran to fast-track $8 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, circumventing normal congressional review…

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/state-dept-forces-out-official-who-worked-on-plan-that-led-to-ex-employers-arms-deals-11559772745

Anonymous ID: 6bd60f June 5, 2019, 4:59 p.m. No.6681172   🗄️.is 🔗kun

>>6681157

State Dept. Forces Out Official Who Worked on Plan That Led to Ex-Employer's Arms Deals

 

06/05/19 06:25 PM EDT

By Dion Nissenbaum and Alex Leary

 

WASHINGTON – The State Department has forced out a senior official who played a role in crafting a plan that led to billions of dollars going to the defense firm where he used to be a lobbyist by taking part in Trump administration efforts to circumvent Congress and fast-track arms sales to Persian Gulf allies, according to current and former U.S. officials.

 

Charles Faulkner is a former outside lobbyist for defense contractor Raytheon Co. who served until last month as a deputy assistant secretary at the State Department. He resigned in early May after working on a plan to use an unusual State Department emergency declaration – citing tensions over Iran – that fast-tracked $8 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates without congressional oversight, these people said.

 

Mr. Faulkner's role in the process has raised concerns in Congress, where Democratic lawmakers want to know if Mr. Faulkner violated Trump administration ethics rules by taking part in discussions on the declaration, which cleared the way for Raytheon's $2 billion deal to sell precision-guided missiles to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

 

"Should he be making decisions about arms sales he was working on before he came to government?" asked a congressional aide.

 

The House Foreign Affairs Committee plans a hearing on next Wednesday on the State Department decisions, according to the panel, and Mr. Faulkner's role is expected to be a focus of the questioning.

 

Mr. Faulkner has been a polarizing figure, according to the current and former officials at the State Department, where he served for the last two years as both deputy assistant secretary and acting assistant secretary for legislative affairs, which manages relations with Congress.

 

Mr. Faulkner declined to comment, referring questions to the State Department, where officials said they couldn't comment on personnel matters.

 

https://www.morningstar.com/news/dow-jones/TDJNDN_2019060510707/state-dept-forces-out-official-who-worked-on-plan-that-led-to-exemployers-arms-deals.html