The lobbyist for Jeff Bezos, Big Pharma, and a company the U.S. has national security concerns about could become D.C.’s “most powerful unelected man†if Kevin McCarthy becomes House Speaker.
D.C. lobbyist Jeff Miller is an outside adviser to Kevin McCarthy who has his “ear.” His influence over Kevin McCarthy will shape the Republican agenda if Kevin becomes Speaker.
Miller’s extremely close relationship with McCarthy is without question.
Here is how Politico describes Miller’s relationship — “close confidant, travel companion, helpful fundraiser, and political consigliere.” The New York Times, meanwhile, reported they are the “closest of friends” and reported that “in Washington’s Republican circles, the relationship between lobbyist and leader is well known and Mr. Miller’s word is authoritative.”
Miller’s corporate clients are then of utmost importance.
We’ve already seen Miller’s impact on McCarthy, as Miller was registered as a lobbyist for Apple and Amazon on antitrust. McCarthy has consistently opposed legislation that would break up the Silicon Valley behemoths.
Miller also registered indirectly for Big Tech through a group called the “Connected Commerce Council.” That’s a group funded by Amazon and Google that falsely claimed to represent dozens of small businesses. Â
Miller’s corporate clients are varied. He’s lobbied for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. That’s the Big Pharma association that includes Pfizer as a member.
Think a Speaker McCarthy will go after Pfizer for COVID-19 vaccine issues?
What about the fact that the likely incoming House Speaker’s top outside adviser has lobbied for a company the U.S. has national security concerns about?
Miller’s been a registered lobbyist for Broadcom. When Broadcom tried to purchase American-owned Qualcomm, the Trump administration blocked it on national security grounds. As Reuters cautioned: “A White House official on Monday confirmed that the national security concerns related to the risks of Broadcom’s relationship with third party foreign entities.”
Rep. McCarthy’s good friend has other clients with China ties such as Blackstone. The investment giant did $32 billion worth of Chinese deals between 2013 and 2018, alone. Blackstone was also partly owned by China for over a decade. China sold its stake in 2018.
Miller also represents a firm called the U.S. Immigration Fund. This group helps foreigners get EB-5 visas. Miller registered to lobby on “issues related to the reauthorization of the U.S. EB-5 Investor Program; including S. 831 – EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2021.”
The EB-5 visa program allows foreigners and their immediate families to get green cards if they invest at least $800,000.
A 2022 study in the British Journal of Sociology stated “most of the visas were acquired by Chinese millionaires, who recorded the world’s highest application rate.”Â
