Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Nicholas Florko
Published on 2024-02-15 09:30:19
A new trove of internal emails and other documents from the e-cigarette maker Juul reveals the extent of the company’s efforts to promote its interests in Washington, providing a rare glimpse into the otherwise opaque methods corporations use to influence the government.
Juul spent significant sums on registered lobbyists and political donations back in 2018 and 2019, especially during the time when the head of the Food and Drug Administration declared youth vaping an epidemic. Congress held two days of hearings investigating Juul’s marketing to kids, and cities, states, and the federal government were threatening to ban the flavored vapes that made Juul popular.
The trove of documents released as part of a legal settlement with the state of North Carolina shows that Juul attempted various strategies, including orchestrating untraceable political donations and paying think tanks for favorable research, in an effort to revamp its image and prevent potential legislative or regulatory action that could negatively impact the company.
Advocates noted that while the strategies themselves weren’t necessarily surprising, it was rare to see them laid out so explicitly. The government affairs lobbyist at Public Citizen, Craig Holman, commented on the surprise of seeing the extent of influence peddling used by one company, even though it is known to happen frequently.
The documents demonstrate that Juul made several political donations through so-called dark money groups that don’t require disclosure, known as 501(c)(4)s. Juul also made traditional donations with executives donating directly to individual candidates and their political action committees. Juul’s internal documents also reveal its use of personal connections to make it harder for public to trace donations.
The company engaged a wide range of influential consultants and former government officials to help navigate Washington. The strategies involved everything from increasing the age for buying tobacco to 21, lobbying congressional leaders, and holding meetings with key officials to combat underage use and support legislative efforts.
Juul used a wide range of consultants, including Mercury, a “high-stakes public strategy firm,” which Juul paid to provide strategy assessments and advise on meetings with government officials. Precision Strategies, a firm founded by top Obama campaign aides, similarly helped create a strategy to change the narrative around Juul and aided in the rollout of the company’s initiatives.
Another consultant, Ed Gillespie, helped organize a salon dinner with key Republican officials, including former senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum.
In response, a Juul spokesperson emphasized the company’s engagement in public dialogue and efforts to contribute to science and evidence-based discussions around reducing the harm caused by smoking. The spokesperson also affirmed the company’s belief in the appropriateness of participating in the public dialogue and engaging with other stakeholders of that dialogue.
The release of these documents has provided valuable insight into the extensive and often secretive efforts made by corporations to influence government policy and has highlighted widespread practices that advocates have long warned against. The internal emails and other documents have shone a light on the lengths to which companies will go to protect and promote their interests in Washington.
