Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Sen. Warren Continues to Target Brookings Over Foreign Funding

Here is more from Politico:

Sen. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-Mass.) sent a letter to the Brookings Institution’s interim president, AMY LIU, to ask how the think tank ensures intellectual independence after it receives foreign funds.

“I remain concerned that these foreign governments — as well as the many private sector corporations and wealthy individuals that are listed as Brookings contributors — can use Brookings and other think tanks to covertly peddle their influence before Congress and the administration,” she wrote.

Warren’s interest in Brookings was piqued following news that the former president, retired Gen. JOHN ALLEN, was under investigation by the Justice Department for violating lobbying laws by advocating for Qatar — a charge he firmly denies. Warren first sent a letter to Brookings in July following that revelation.

 

The publication Mother Jones also notes that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is among those taking aim at Brookings. 

Meanwhile, The Washington Free Beacon notes that Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) are spearheading the Think Tank Transparency Act of 2022, which would force nonprofit groups that seek to influence public policy and Congress to publicly report all foreign funding, as well as contracts or agreements they strike with foreign entities.