Russia has launched a war in Ukraine. While the West now focuses on diplomacy and military assistance, many foreign nations, including the combatants, spent years seeking to influence American politicians and public opinion. There was lobbying about the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. There were investigations about Russian influence in the elections for President. There were allegations that foreigners were making campaign contributions. My guest for this episode of Early Returns is David Laufman, a former prosecutor and the former Department of Justice Section Chief who oversaw national security issues including export controls, sanctions and the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Join us as we discuss how the United States regulates the political and PR activities of foreign citizens and nations. Learn why RT/Sputnik had to register under FARA, but not the BBC. Does being called a “foreign agent” carry a stigma? Do Russia and Ukraine have agents operating in the U.S? There is so much to discuss.
See more biographical information on David Laufman.