I’m concerned about whether members of the Department of Justice’s antitrust department, or other members of your administration, were involved in the recently published investigation.
“I also have questions about whether your administration had any contact with the Saudi government about the investigation, either before it was opened or afterwards.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) wrote a letter to President Biden late yesterday asking him to explain the timing of press releases about the Department of Justice’s antitrust inquiry into the PGA Golf. In particular, the time raises questions about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in both the underlying antitrust investigation and Monday’s media coverage of the investigation, as well as potential foreign lobbying issues related to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
“I am concerned about whether members of the Department of Justice’s antitrust department, or other members of your administration, were involved in the recently published investigation,” Senator Cornyn wrote. “I also have questions about whether your administration had any contact with the Saudi government about the investigation, either before it was opened or afterwards.”
The full text of the letter can be found here and below,.
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
I’m writing to raise concerns about the timing of the administration’s investigation into the PGA Tour, a US company. This investigation, according to news reports, is focused on the PGA Tour’s impact on a Saudi-Arab-funded company, LIV Golf. On Monday, July 11, 2022, the week you traveled to Saudi Arabia, the Wall Street Journal reported that your administration had sent inquiries regarding the PGA Tour’s actions regarding LIV Golf.
I’m concerned about whether members of the Department of Justice’s antitrust department, or other members of your administration, were involved in the recently published investigation. I also have questions about whether your administration had contact with the Saudi government about the investigation, either before it was opened or afterwards.
In writing, I would like to note the extent of Saudi Arabia’s influence on American life. This investigation of the private sector has potential implications both for our nation’s foreign policy and for openness at home. Saudi Arabia has a history of covert and at times malicious behavior in its attempts to influence American public policy and freedom of expression in our own country. In 2016, the Saudi government used shell non-profits to trick several US veterans into lobbying on their behalf against the law on justice against state sponsors of terrorism (P.L. 114-222). In 2018, Saudi operators murdered US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside his own consulate. This was a terrible act of transnational oppression. Those who ordered this crime have not yet been held accountable. Despite these actions, Saudi Arabia continues to engage easily on the world stage, knowing that it can lobby, influence and engage in malicious behavior without consequence.
Against this backdrop, I am writing to ask for answers to the following questions regarding the PGA Tour survey and Saudi Arabia’s potential knowledge and involvement.
1. Has anyone in your administration communicated with anyone in the press, off the record or otherwise, about the LIV Golf or PGA Tour survey prior to the Wall Street Journal’s request for comment?
2. Has the Saudi government or a representative of this authority contacted anyone in your administration regarding the LIV Golf or PGA Tour survey?
3. Did the Saudi government or a representative of this government invite a member of your administration to open the PGA Tour investigation?
4. Has the Saudi government or a representative of this government contacted anyone in your administration regarding any discussions about the investigation with a member of the press before your visit to Saudi Arabia in July?
5. Has the Saudi government or an agent from that authority approached anyone in your administration to discuss the PGA Tour investigation during your trip to Saudi Arabia in July?
If so, what was the nature of the discussion?
7. Was there lobbying on behalf of the Saudi government related to either press coverage of the investigation or the investigation itself?
8. If so, were these lobbying activities in line with all Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) registration requirements?
9. How did your administration ensure FARA compliance during your talks with foreign agents from the Saudi government on these issues?
10. What is the status of the investigation?
Thank you for your concern. I look forward to your reply.
