News · Money Trail
Kurdistan Regional Government Named as OPC Strategies' Foreign Principal; Registration Reports No Money
OPC Strategies' FARA registration answered No on money received from and spent for the Kurdistan Regional Government. Its later filing's money section is not in the record.
By Americans for Transparency · Published
Written by AFTorg's automated desk from the public record. Before publication, each of its 24 statements was checked against the source it cites; 3 that could not be matched were cut. How this works · Report an error
The short answer
The filing text in this record does not show what OPC Strategies was paid by the Kurdistan Regional Government. In its 2018-10-16 Registration Statement, the firm answered No when asked whether it received any contribution, income, or money from that foreign principal. The available text of that statement stops at its things-of-value question. The available text of its 2019-06-11 Supplemental Statement ends before its financial items. The firm lists its business as strategic communications, public relations, and advertising.
- OPC Strategies LLC, registrant No. 6601, lists the Kurdistan Regional Government as its foreign principal; DOJ's index adds "through PASS-USA (IRAQ)."
- The 2018-10-16 Registration Statement answered No on money received and No on money spent for the foreign principal during its reporting window.
- Jon Summers, the firm's president and sole member, is named as the person rendering services directly for the foreign principal.
- DOJ's index says the registration was terminated 2019-04-30, but the supplemental statement for the period ending May 30, 2019 answered No on whether the connection with a foreign principal ended.
Who works for the Kurdistan Regional Government, and what the filings say about money
A Maryland firm told the Justice Department it was acting for the Kurdistan Regional Government. OPC Strategies LLC registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act on 2018-10-16. DOJ's index lists its foreign principal as "Kurdistan Regional Government through PASS-USA (IRAQ)."[1][2]
The registration lists the Kurdistan Regional Government at 1532 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036. The firm describes its regular business as strategic communications, public relations, and advertising.[2]
“Strategic communications, public relations, and advertising.”
Following the money: no amounts on the record
The money trail stops at the first filing. Item 9(a) of the Registration Statement asks whether the firm received any money from the foreign principal. The window runs from 60 days before the firm had to register to the day it filed. The firm answered No. Item 10(a) asks whether the firm spent money for the foreign principal in that window. It answered No again. Item 9(b) asks about things of value other than money received. It answered No.[2]
| Amount | Date or period | From / to | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| None reported (Item 9(a) answered No) | 60 days before obligation to register through 2018-10-16 | From Kurdistan Regional Government | Registration Statement, stamped 2018-10-16 (fara-1704) |
| None reported (Item 10(a) answered No) | 60 days before obligation to register through 2018-10-16 | Spent for Kurdistan Regional Government | Registration Statement, stamped 2018-10-16 (fara-1704) |
| Not in available text | Six month period ending May 30, 2019 | Not stated | Supplemental Statement, stamped 2019-06-11 (fara-1697) |
Who did the work
Jon Summers is named as president and as the person in charge. The filing says the LLC was formed by him and that he is its sole member. He is the one person the filing names as rendering services directly for the foreign principal.[2]
“OPC Strategies, LLC, does business as Summers Strategies.”
The registration names Phoebe Sweet and Launce Rake as employees serving the foreign principal. It lists their work as communications strategy, writing and editing. Both are named as short-form registrants in DOJ's index.[2][1]
The Supplemental Statement says Phoebe Sweet, a partner, ended her connection with the firm and with the Kurdistan Regional Government on 10/26/2018. It says Matt Fuehrmeyer became vice president on 12/10/2018. It lists him among persons hired who rendered or will render services for a foreign principal. He is named as a short-form registrant in DOJ's index.[3][1]
What is known and what is not
- Known: the Kurdistan Regional Government is the foreign principal, and the firm continued to represent it during the period ending May 30, 2019.
- Known: the firm reported no change to its Exhibits A and B during that period.
- Not known from this record: any amount paid, who paid it, or the contract's terms.
- Unresolved: DOJ's index says the registration was terminated 2019-04-30, but the supplemental statement answered No on whether the connection with a foreign principal ended during the period ending May 30, 2019. The sources do not explain the difference.[3][1]
Filing details
- Registration Statement, Form NSD-1, received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 10/16/2018 12:18:45 PM.
- Supplemental Statement, Form NSD-2, received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 06/11/2019 10:43:09 AM.
- Exhibit AB dated 2018-10-06, listed in DOJ's index; text not in this record.
- DOJ's index lists 10 filings, the latest stamped 2019-10-22; three are described in the record.[2][3][1]
Sources
- [1]U.S. Department of Justice, FARA Unit, FARA filing index for OPC Strategies LLC (No. 6601), October 22, 2019. Primary record“Kurdistan Regional Government through PASS-USA (IRAQ)”
- [2]U.S. Department of Justice, FARA Unit, OPC Strategies LLC: Registration Statement, stamped 2018-10-16, October 16, 2018. Primary record“Strategic communications, public relations, and advertising.”
- [3]U.S. Department of Justice, FARA Unit, OPC Strategies LLC: Supplemental Statement, stamped 2019-06-11, June 11, 2019. Primary record“For Six Month Period Ending May 30,2019”