{"id":2291635,"date":"2024-07-10T03:32:02","date_gmt":"2024-07-10T07:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taxpayer-funded-group-to-celebrate-americas-birthday-features-lobbyist-for-chinas-tiktok-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-07-10T03:34:14","modified_gmt":"2024-07-10T07:34:14","slug":"taxpayer-funded-group-to-celebrate-americas-birthday-features-lobbyist-for-chinas-tiktok-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taxpayer-funded-group-to-celebrate-americas-birthday-features-lobbyist-for-chinas-tiktok-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Taxpayer-funded group to celebrate America\u2019s birthday features lobbyist for China\u2019s TikTok &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftaxpayer-funded-group-to-celebrate-americas-birthday-features-lobbyist-for-chinas-tiktok-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2291635&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the\u2064 involvement of a TikTok lobbyist in the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, a group organized to \u200dlead celebrations for America&#8217;s 250th \u200bbirthday in 2026. The lobbyist, \u200dJoe Crowley, is part \u200dof \u2063the commission despite \u200dTikTok&#8217;s uncertain future due to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blackburn-introduces-amendments-to-counter-china-and-iran\/\" title=\"Blackburn Introduces Amendments to Counter China and Iran\">national security concerns<\/a>. Some members of Congress have criticized the \u2063commission for its ties to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-budget-includes-green-card-giveaway-mass-amnesty\/\" title=\"Dem Budget Includes Green Card Giveaway, Mass Amnesty\">left-wing initiatives<\/a> and its funding sources. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elite-college-students-blame-israel-for-hamas-terror-attack\/\" title=\"Elite college students accuse Israel of being responsible for the recent Hamas terror attack.\">article raises questions<\/a> about \u2062conflicts of interest and the influence of\u200d individuals with ties to \u200cChina in Washington. It also mentions <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-reportedly-on-track-to-pick-scotus-nominee-by-monday\/\" title=\"Biden Reportedly on Track to Pick SCOTUS Nominee by Monday\">high-profile lawmakers<\/a> involved\u2062 in \u200bAmerica250 and\u2064 highlights concerns about the lobbyist&#8217;s\u2062 involvement with TikTok.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\">\n<div class=\"tdb-search-form-inner\"><input class=\"tdb-head-search-form-input\" placeholder=\" \" type=\"text\" value name=\"s\" autocomplete=\"off\"><button class=\"wpb_button wpb_btn-inverse btn tdb-head-search-form-btn\" title=\"Search\" type=\"submit\"><span>Search<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Taxpayer-funded group to celebrate America\u2019s birthday features lobbyist for China\u2019s TikTok<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> <a class=\"tdb-author-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/gabe-kaminsky\/\">Gabe Kaminsky<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2024-07-10T03:00:00-04:00\">July 10, 2024 3:00 am<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1697809\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A U.S. government-backed group organized to lead celebrations in 2026 to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence counts a registered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tiktok\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>TikTok<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lobbying\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>lobbyist<\/a> as one of its leaders, records show.<\/p>\n<p>Formed in 2016, the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission <a href=\"https:\/\/www.appropriations.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/FY23%20Omnibus%20Full%20Summary.pdf#page=16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>receives<\/a> millions of <a href=\"https:\/\/america250.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/2022-Annual-Report-to-Congress-1.pdf#page=5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>dollars<\/a> through congressional appropriations and is tasked with coordinating programming, some of which has been criticized by some Republicans as partisan and \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2022\/07\/04\/if-you-dont-want-woke-bureaucrats-to-ruin-americas-250th-birthday-start-planning-now\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>woke<\/a>,\u201d in connection to the founding of the United States on July 4, 1776. The commission includes top federal officials such as Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of State <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/antony-blinken\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Antony Blinken<\/a>, former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, professors, and even members of Congress, many of whom also sit on an affiliated \u201cAmerica250\u201d Caucus.<\/p>\n<p>The commission, however, also includes a lobbyist for TikTok, the Chinese Communist Party-linked social media app facing an uncertain future after President Joe Biden in April <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2978246\/defiant-tiktok-ceo-app-isnt-going-anywhere\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>signed a bill<\/a> into law forcing TikTok\u2019s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or soon face a ban over national security concerns. The lobbyist, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentons.com\/en\/joe-crowley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Joe Crowley<\/a>, is a former House Democrat now part of TikTok\u2019s influence army at the Washington, D.C., lobbying firm Denton\u2019s working to save the embattled app.<\/p>\n<p>That a TikTok lobbyist is involved with an organization aiming to celebrate America\u2019s 250th birthday and freedom is an apparent irony. China\u2019s authoritarian government took a 1% stake in ByteDance and a seat on its board in 2021. Crowley registered to lobby on behalf of TikTok in April 2023 and is <a href=\"https:\/\/lda.senate.gov\/filings\/public\/filing\/search\/?registrant=%C2%AEistrant_country=%C2%AEistrant_ppb_country=&#038;client=tiktok&#038;client_state=&#038;client_country=&#038;client_ppb_country=&#038;lobbyist=joe+crowley&#038;lobbyist_covered_position=&#038;lobbyist_conviction_disclosure=&#038;lobbyist_conviction_date_range_from=&#038;lobbyist_conviction_date_range_to=&#038;report_period=&#038;report_year=&#038;report_dt_posted_from=&#038;report_dt_posted_to=&#038;report_amount_reported_min=&#038;report_amount_reported_max=&#038;report_filing_uuid=&#038;report_house_doc_id=&#038;report_issue_area_description=&#038;affiliated_organization=&#038;affiliated_organization_country=&#038;foreign_entity=&#038;foreign_entity_country=&#038;foreign_entity_ppb_country=&#038;foreign_entity_ownership_percentage_min=&#038;foreign_entity_ownership_percentage_max=&#038;search=search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>listed<\/a> on six federal disclosures filed with the Senate, including one filed on Monday, totaling $630,000 combined for advocacy on \u201cissues related to internet technology, regulation of content of platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe ought to defund it,\u201d Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) said of the commission, which Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) is <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2024\/07\/03\/exclusive-sen-mike-lee-mike-sounds-alarm-over-taxpayer-funded-project-to-denigrate-america-for-2026-celebrations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>investigating<\/a> over its ties to left-wing initiatives. The America250 commission has received almost $35 million from Congress since 2019 and roughly $4 million from the private sector, according to America250\u2019s annual <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1sYf7UsLiFJduEzmMQ8oQuJX_l2wPEeKy\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>report<\/a> in January. Members of the Semiquincentennial Commission are unpaid, a source familiar said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a larger question here for anybody in Washington being paid by TikTok,\u201d said Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser to the nonpartisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank. \u201cWill it be business as usual? Will it impact their access, their ability to serve on boards and commissions? Or are we choosing to ignore their decision to work on behalf of the CCP, which is actively trying to destabilize and undermine the United States?\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Joe Biden talks with former Rep. Joe Crowley after speaking during an event on healthcare costs on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. Crowley is now a lobbyist for TikTok and sits on the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission. (AP Photo\/Susan Walsh)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Crowley\u2019s role with America250 is a window into how those with ties to China often retain influence in Washington, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2455315\/congressional-football-game-takes-heat-from-lawmakers-over-china-ties-we-slipped-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>sponsoring<\/a> high-profile events, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2877498\/members-of-congress-pocketed-tens-of-thousands-from-lobbyists-linked-to-chinas-huawei\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>dropping<\/a> money <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2352013\/tiktok-lobbyist-on-board-of-aoc-advised-group-funded-by-chinas-bytedance-influence-peddling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>into<\/a> campaign coffers, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/2858790\/house-gop-rallies-blacklisting-lobbyists-chinese-military-companies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>and<\/a> working to shape key legislation.<\/p>\n<p>According to its website, America250\u2019s congressional caucus includes some of the most high-profile lawmakers on Capitol Hill, such as House Speaker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-johnson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Mike Johnson<\/a> (R-LA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Mike Lee (R-UT), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), and others. America250 is also partnered with the Departments of Defense, Justice, State, Education, and other agencies, as well as the Supreme Court, the group says on its <a href=\"https:\/\/america250.org\/our-partners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>website<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), who is listed on America250\u2019s website as a caucus member, said the Republican is no longer involved with the project. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is disgraceful that an individual lobbying on behalf of the CCP\u2019s TikTok is on this commission,\u201d one senior GOP congressional aide told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cCrowley should step down.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Crowley\u2019s willingness to lobby for TikTok has notably opened him up to apparent conflicts of interest. Last year, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/playbook\/2023\/05\/11\/how-trump-dominated-cnn-00096382\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Politico<\/a><\/em>  reported that the musicFIRST coalition, a music industry association, dropped the lobbyist and his firm over their working with TikTok because some of the coalition\u2019s members apparently had problems with the app.<\/p>\n<p>Separately, TikTok and the lobbying firm Mehlman Consulting parted ways this month, the pair <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/politico-influence\/2024\/07\/01\/tiktok-down-a-lobbying-firm-00166101\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>confirmed<\/a>. Other firms still registered to lobby for TikTok include Crossroads Strategies, AND Partners, Cozen O\u2019Connor Public Strategies, David Urban\u2019s LGL Advisors, and K&#038;L Gates, according to Senate lobbying disclosures.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Crowley did not reply to a request for comment. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cCommission members provide counsel and insight, sharing a passion for our country, apart from politics and contentious policy battles that dominate discourse today,\u201d an America250 spokesperson told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cWe\u2019re thankful for their leadership and for the contributions of Americans\u00a0from coast to coast working to make this celebration a huge success.\u201d <\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1697809\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1697809\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A government-funded organization established to oversee celebrations for America&#8217;s 250th anniversary in 2026 includes a lobbyist for TikTok, a Chinese-owned social media app. The organization, known as the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, has faced criticism for its programming and ties to left-wing initiatives. The lobbyist, Joe Crowley, is a former House Democrat now working for TikTok&#8217;s lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. Despite concerns over national security and TikTok&#8217;s ties to the Chinese Communist Party, Crowley&#8217;s involvement with the commission has raised questions about conflicts of interest. Members of the commission, including high-profile federal officials and lawmakers, are unpaid and receive funding from both Congress and the private sector. Critics have called for Crowley to step down from his role due to his ties to TikTok and the CCP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":381,"featured_media":2291636,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Declaration-of-Independence-Commission-China-TikTok-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[34475,4501,5054,5953,6248],"class_list":["post-2291635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-americas-birthday","tag-china","tag-lobbyist","tag-taxpayer-funded","tag-tiktok"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Declaration-of-Independence-Commission-China-TikTok-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2291635","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/381"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2291635"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2291635\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2291636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2291635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2291635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2291635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}