South Dakota Republican Party Chairman Dan Lederman was noted on a FARA (Foreign Agent Registration Act) filing today via twitter by a reporter for liberal online news publication “The Intercept” as part of the firm he has a day job with (LS2 Group) taking on a new contract with the Embassy of Saudi Arabia.
According to the FARA Filing from November 26th:
Lederman Fara Form by Pat Powers on Scribd
The FARA form notes the purpose of the representation is to “Provide strategic and government affairs advice, public relations and communications advice and services, and outreach and engagement with the public and media groups.”
What does that mean? The “outreach and engagement” work is likely related to related to the country’s 80 year+ relationship with the US, and will probably involve trade goods. Saudi Arabia has historically proven to be a strong purchaser of American goods, especially where South Dakota is concerned.
(Report from Business Roundable, 2013 – www.brt.org/trade)
While Saudi Arabia has been the 20th ranked export trade partner for the US, as of 2017, Saudi Arabia was South Dakota’s 10th largest foreign trading partner with $64 million in exports from the state. After 2003, Saudi trade with the state had been growing by nearly 91% yearly, but slipped down nearly 39% between 2017 – 2018, so redoubling those efforts could provide a benefit to state farmers and manufacturers.
As South Dakotans work to bring foreign partners into the state to purchase South Dakota agricultural goods, Saudi purchases of ag and other state products will probably be one of the goals of the outreach effort. Previously, South Dakota goods purchased in the past have included a major contract for a Lyons firetruck manufacturing company to supply the country with $318 Million in firefighting apparatus, with 470 trucks being directly built in South Dakota.
The state had previously earned a visit from a Saudi Arabian prince in 2014, who visited Sioux Falls to learn more about business in South Dakota.
$10,000 a month for “consulting”?
I forget, what was Lederman’s experience prior to becoming the state’s GOP Chair?
I feel like this is the same as Gov. Noem’s daughter getting paid $60,000/year. Vastly over paid for something they’re absolutely under qualified for.
But hey- if you’re getting paid for your connections, it makes sense right?
His experience? Partner in a family owned multi-state business, as well as small businessman in his own right.
Jeez. Considering that’s probably as an independent contractor, he gets to pay all his own office expenses, insurance, phone, taxes, etc. I don’t think it’s out of line.
Saudi Arabia needs our soybeans. And beef.
And Firetrucks
They don’t need them- They can meet beef demands from a multitude of other countries.
But what was his previous experience in international relations to warrant this 6 figure consulting gig, being a “successful small business owner” in SD doesnt often lead to such lucrative opportunities… unless there are some swampy political deals that go down… how is this not the definition of the swamp again??
I think he has plenty of experience at working with govt officials at all levels from his time as a county commissioner and legislator. Which is what they do when they represent a client.
So lots of former SD county comissioners have 6 figure consulting gigs with Islamic countries? Huh, guess more people should hear about the opportunities such humble positions afford. I would guess 95% of South Dakotans would take that salary and actually put in an honest week’s work to earn the paycheck too, not just promise political favors.
Drain the swamp!
Saudi Arabia was one of the first Arab nations to ally themselves with Israel. The constellation of allies in the Middle East is shifting, likely in part because of the threat from Iran.
Saudi Arabia sends many students to South Dakota universities. Estimates suggest Saudi Arabia invests millions of dollars each year in South Dakota’s higher education system.
On most South Dakota Universities are Islamic groups, such as the Muslim Student Association, an organization linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, and designated an international Islamic terrorist organization. Much of the money for these organizations come from Saudi Arabia.
But I am all for trade, but I am very concerned about importing the Saudi Arabian/Wahhabistt Islamic extremism into South Dakota.
I know Dan Lederman is willing to say that Islam is not a religion of peace and that terror has something to do with Islam. While he was a Senator, he pushed legislation trying to help explain the dangers of Islam and Islamic cultural practices.
I look forward to working with Dan and the South Dakota Republican Party as we continue to welcome those people searching for freedom from Islamic extremism, especially that found in Saudi Arabia.
One of the first speakers I would like to bring to South Dakota is Jasmine Mohammed.
Her appearance will be protested by Muslim Brotherhood front groups, and other Islamic sympathizer organizations such as Lutheran Social Services.
These events will be an excellent opportunity for the people of South Dakota to see their political leaders, like Dan, publicly stand with those who truly love freedom!
https://youtu.be/_PXfMY6YqBY
Neal- you were rejected by the whole State for your wingnut views to someone who actually voted to limit Trumps powers. Take a seat and recede to the mansions of rest.
Can’t debate with facts, so you resort to personal attacks.
Saudi Arabia is one of those countries that has quite the interesting history with the US. They are almost state sponsored terrorists for the US on one hand, and the source of much of the terrorism that has happened towards the US on the other. Yet, we just don’t care or we continue to look the other way in hopes of economic success. Frankly, I don’t trust them.
Neither do I.
It is impossible to separate Saudi Arabia and Wahabbism, the most dangerous version of Islam. Every child in Saudi Arabia is educated in a Wahabbist school, where children are taught the Koran.
Despite attempts to suggest Saudi Arabia is undergoing a reformation, as long as Islam and Islamic law teaches that one must be killed for leaving Islam, there will not be reform…
And Dan Lederman knows that Islam is Unchangeable since It is blasphemy (also punishable by death) to change the words of Allah, which says that Christians and Jews are infidels, and that infidels must be killed.
Good luck reforming that!
But it appears Israel and Saudi Arabia are preparing for war against Iran. Look out for a ton of articles suggesting Saudi Arabia is “undergoing reform.”
Trade is one thing. But exporting oil, terrrorism and Sunni extremism is Saudi Arabia’s greatest exports.
I’m scared to put my name to this post…I wonder why?
The new crown prince of Saudi Arabia has passed many reforms in the last 2 years. Women can initiate divorces and be heads of households, women make up half of college students, religious police no longer patrol the streets, men and women can associate freely without supervision or prosecution. We should support these reforms and work with the leadership bringing positive change to their country.
Positively disgusting. And he’s the president of his synagogue’s congregation in Sioux City. All the while, lobbying for the Saudis? Lobbying against justice for 9/11 victims’ families?
What does his position with the synagogue have to do with anything? Nice bigotry.
Who is he lobbying?
I don’t remember seeing any bills in state legislature
Great question! Can’t be nobody though, not for 10k/month, hmmm. Seems more like kickbacks for political favors. Stinks if you ask me
United States foreign policy towards the middle east is schizophrenic. One of the largest state sponsors of terror and nation whose citizens are largely responsible for 9/11? Friend. Amigo. Compadre.
Iran? Bad. Enemy.
Should sell billions more in US arms to Saudi Arabia while they continue to foment terrorism and hang people in the streets.
Yowza. 10k a month is way more than the vast majority of South Dakotans make. The spin on this one is/will be interesting.
He needs to step down from the party chairmanship. He cannot both serve a foreign government and run the party.
That’s a dumb statement. He’s working for a company who has a contract with the embassy. Considering the party gig is unpaid, I think he’s allowed to have a job.
Seems like this “unpaid” position has a lot to do with this “consulting” gig though.
Would he have gotten this job if he wasn’t a state party chair? Absolutely not-
He’s now a bigger part of the problem in South Dakota politics. He is getting paid for access- which the every day person cannot give. He’s a lobbyist now- might as well move to DC and be in the swamp.