DOJ foreign agent database sat dormant for almost a year
A recent article from the *Washington Examiner* discusses issues surrounding the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) foreign agent database, which had not been updated for nearly a year due to a technical problem. The database,officially known as the “foreign Principal Political Activities” dashboard,was finally updated following inquiries from the *Washington Examiner*. this database provides insights into the political activities of foreign agents, including details about their communications with U.S. officials.
The DOJ spokesperson clarified that the lack of updates was a result of a technical issue that has now been resolved. The most recent update reveals activities such as communications between the firm Neale Creek, representing the qatari Embassy, and a legislative assistant for Senator Tim Scott, which pertained to U.S.-Qatar relations. Observers are notably keen to analyze this newly released data to understand the extent of Qatari influence within Washington. However, a review by the *Washington Examiner* showed that much of the facts in the database is not readily accessible elsewhere on the DOJ’s website, raising concerns about openness. The DOJ did not respond to requests for further clarification.
‘Technical issue’ caused foreign agent database to sit dormant for nearly a year, DOJ says
EXCLUSIVE — A Justice Department database documenting political operations carried out by foreign agents was updated Thursday morning after sitting dormant since September 2024 following a Washington Examiner inquiry.
On Wednesday, the Washington Examiner reached out to the Department of Justice to request information on when the agency’s “Foreign Principal Political Activities” dashboard would be updated, noting that the most recent entries displayed were nearly a year old. On Thursday morning, a DOJ spokeswoman told the Washington Examiner that the lack of updates had been the result of a technical issue and that it had been resolved.
The dashboard contains information about who foreign agents are contacting and how, when the communications occurred, and for what purpose. For example, the newly released data shows that the firm Neale Creek, working on behalf of the Qatari Embassy, sent an email to Sen. Tim Scott’s (R-SC) deputy legislative assistant on March 31 to discuss “U.S.-Qatar relations.”
A Washington Examiner review of the DOJ’s Foreign Agents Registration Act webpage shows that much of the information included within the Foreign Principal Political Activities database does not appear to be publicly accessible elsewhere on the site. Additionally, the link to download bulk data about foreign agents on the DOJ’s website was nonfunctional as of publication.
The newly released data will be of particular interest to observers interested in learning more about Qatari foreign influence, as Doha’s reach has become an increasingly salient issue in Washington.
The DOJ did not respond when reached with follow-up questions.
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