They’re the Democratic Party’s Top Operatives—and Lobbying for a Company Accused of Destroying Black Heritage Sites
American Bridge 21st Century, the largest progressive super PAC, has a team of prominent Democratic operatives that includes cofounder Bradley Beychok and Clinton adviser and commentator James Carville. While they are known for promoting progressive causes, their consulting firm, ABI Associates, has taken on controversial clients such as Greenfield Louisiana LLC, which is accused of environmental racism for a construction project that would destroy historical slave sites in Louisiana. Another client is the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, whose members include companies behind the Keystone XL Pipeline, a target of progressive backlash. ABI Associates aims to cover up negative press for its clients, including those against which its principals spend their time generating negative press. This lucrative but questionable work could harm American Bridge’s reputation as a leading force in progressive politics.
Greenfield Louisiana’s proposed 238-acre grain terminal in the majority-black township of Wallace has faced allegations from civil rights and conservation groups because of its potential damage to the environment and the historic African-American community. American Bridge principals’ advocacy for Greenfield may not sit well with some of American Bridge’s biggest donors, notably billionaire philanthropist George Soros, who has funded numerous civil rights groups and has spoken out against “environmental racism.”
ABI Associates, run by Beychok and former Biden aide Ankit Desai, has deep political connections in Louisiana and Washington, D.C., which will likely benefit Greenfield and another client, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, which has hired the firm amid an industry-wide effort to win over liberal voters. Anzalone, President Biden’s top pollster, provides polling data about natural gas to the White House on behalf of the group. American Bridge has criticized Republicans who support Keystone XL for contributing to climate change and contaminating fresh water in eight states, while TC Energy, the company behind the pipeline, is a member of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America.
ABI Associates has not commented yet.
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