Bob Dole's law firm earned $140K for Taiwan lobbying, paving way for Trump phone call
The Alston & Bird law firm earned $140,000 over a six-month period for lobbying efforts by former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole that connected members of Donald Trump’s staff with Taiwan officials.
Dole’s efforts led to the Dec. 2 phone call between Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, report the New York Times, Politico, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) and Bloomberg News. The phone call raised eyebrows because of the possibility it would affect the United States’ relationship with China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province.
In the month’s leading up to the phone call, Dole set up several meetings between Trump staff and Taiwan officials, according to the New York Times. Dole involved Trump aides in a U.S. delegation to Taiwan and helped establish a Taiwan delegation to the Republican National Convention.
Dole also helped insert language in the Republican Party platform that called Taiwan “a loyal friend of America” that should benefit from a free-trade agreement, the sale of defensive weapons and full participation in the World Health Organization, according to the Bloomberg article.
Alston & Bird made the disclosure in Justice Department documents filed last week to comply with the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
In interviews with the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, Dole said he had helped facilitate the phone call. “It’s fair to say that we had some influence,” he told the Times.
Taiwan also pays the firms of four other former U.S. lawmakers, and pays a retainer to Crowell & Moring, according to Politico.
