Smithfield Foods' longtime lobbyist Christopher DeLacy at Greenberg Traurig repeatedly checked "NONE" on foreign-interest disclosure forms for years, allegedly concealing that his lobbying work—including efforts to influence the Farm Bill and Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland—directly benefited Smithfield's Chinese parent company, WH Group.
The undisclosed foreign ties only surfaced after a watchdog complaint was filed. DeLacy lobbied on behalf of a firm owned by China while federal forms suggested no foreign interest was involved.
Several Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Ashley Hinson, accepted campaign contributions from the China-owned conglomerate. Critics are now calling for accountability from Greenberg Traurig and questioning what penalties DeLacy will face for the alleged omissions.
The controversy raises broader concerns about foreign influence in U.S. agricultural policy and transparency in lobbying disclosures.
The undisclosed foreign ties only surfaced after a watchdog complaint was filed. DeLacy lobbied on behalf of a firm owned by China while federal forms suggested no foreign interest was involved.
Several Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Ashley Hinson, accepted campaign contributions from the China-owned conglomerate. Critics are now calling for accountability from Greenberg Traurig and questioning what penalties DeLacy will face for the alleged omissions.
The controversy raises broader concerns about foreign influence in U.S. agricultural policy and transparency in lobbying disclosures.