Speaker Mike Johnson’s top policy adviser, Dan Ziegler, previously lobbied for corporations that have taken a clear interest in the Ukraine war. Ziegler was a lobbyist with Williams & Jensen, a firm with a clients list including Amgen, Eli Lilly & Co, Visa, Vanguard Group, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Merck, which have all issued statements in support of Ukraine and, in many cases, eliminated or curtailed their business activities in Russia.
Among Ziegler’s reported former clients is Bloom Energy Corp., which provides energy services to Lockheed Martin. The U.S. arms supplier could benefit from further U.S. aid to Ukraine via increased military contracts, boosting Bloom, in turn. The impact of the war and associated sanctions on the traditional energy market has also benefited Bloom, which specializes in renewable energy.
Ziegler’s connections to businesses with interests in Ukraine emerge as Speaker Johnson is controversially paving the way for more Ukraine aid. This has angered America First conservatives, but he has insisted he will “do the right thing and… let the chips fall where they may.”
“If I operated out of fear of a motion to vacate, I would never be able to do my job. History judges us for what we do. This is a critical time right now,” he added — although before becoming Speaker, he voted against bills including further Ukraine aid.
SEPARATE BILLS.
Johnson is allowing separate bills funding aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan to go before the House, having previously rejected a Senate bill that combined aid for all three with a border security package that could have made immigration worse.
Allowing a standalone Ukraine aid bill to go forward and likely pass with the help of Democrat lawmakers is widely regarded as a U-turn. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) have expressed support for removing Johnson from the Speaker’s chair.
However, both previously supported Kevin McCarthy, who also supported Ukraine aid, and it is unclear who might replace Johnson.
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