News · Explainer
Who Did Bluelight Strategies Work For Under FARA?
A Washington communications firm registered to act for Omar Harfouch, a Lebanese-French businessman, then ended that connection weeks later, its filings show.
By Americans for Transparency · Published
Written by AFTorg's automated desk from the public record. Before publication, each of its 25 statements was checked against the source it cites; 1 that could not be matched were cut. How this works · Report an error
The short answer
Bluelight Strategies registered under FARA to act for one foreign principal: Omar Harfouch, listed as an individual of Lebanese nationality with a Paris address. The firm is Rabinowitz, Inc., registrant No. 7200. It registered on 2022-12-08. Its president, Steven Rabinowitz, owns and controls it. The firm reported nothing received and nothing disbursed in its registration statement. A later filing says the connection with Harfouch ended 12/31/2022.
- Rabinowitz, Inc. d/b/a Bluelight Strategies is FARA registrant No. 7200, registered 2022-12-08.
- Its only listed foreign principal is Mr. Omar Harfouch, with Lebanon as the country represented and an address in Paris, France.
- The filing describes Harfouch as the founder of Third Republic, a civil society movement for political reform in Lebanon.
- The registration statement lists "Nothing Received" and "Nothing Disbursed" for Harfouch.
- A supplemental statement gives 12/31/2022 as the date the connection with Harfouch ended.
Who the firm signed up to act for
Bluelight Strategies told the Justice Department it was acting for one foreign principal: Mr. Omar Harfouch. The filing lists Lebanon as the country represented. It gives his address as 30B Rue de Tilsitt in Paris, France. It lists him as an individual of Lebanese nationality, not a government.[1][2]
“Omar Harfouch is a Lebanese-French businessman, activist and philanthropist.”
The same exhibit says Harfouch is the founder of Third Republic. It describes Third Republic as a new civil society movement for political reform in Lebanon.[1]
Who runs Bluelight Strategies
The registrant is Rabinowitz, Inc., which does business as Bluelight Strategies. It was organized on 04/29/1994 in Washington, D.C. Its registration statement names Steven Rabinowitz as the responsible individual and as President. The DOJ index lists him as a short-form registrant.[2][3]
“The corporation is owned and controlled by Steven Rabinowitz.”
The firm describes its regular business as "Media and communications consulting; government affairs."[2]
Money reported
The registration statement asks about money and things of value received in the 60 days before the duty to register began. For Harfouch, the firm wrote "Nothing Received" for both. For money spent on his behalf, it wrote "Nothing Disbursed."[2]
When it ended
The firm registered on 2022-12-08. Its supplemental statement covers the 6-month period ending 06/30/2023. It gives 12/31/2022 as the date its connection with Harfouch ended. It gives the same date for Steven Rabinowitz ending his connection with Harfouch. For foreign principals the firm continued to represent, it wrote "None."[4][3]
What is not known
The sources provided do not include an Exhibit B, the form that describes the agreement between registrant and foreign principal. So the planned work is not described here. DOJ's index counts 5 filings from the firm, but its entry lists only three. The other two are not in these sources.[3][4]
Filing details
- Registration Statement (Form NSD-1), received 12/08/2022 6:32:43 PM.
- Exhibit A (Form NSD-3), indexed as Exhibit AB, received 12/08/2022 6:32:37 PM.
- Supplemental Statement (Form NSD-2), received 07/28/2023 1:12:51 PM, for the 6-month period ending 06/30/2023.
- Registration terminated 2022-12-31, per the DOJ index.[2][1][4][3]
Questions people ask
Who did Bluelight Strategies work for under FARA?
Its filings list one foreign principal: Mr. Omar Harfouch. The filing lists Lebanon as the country represented and gives a Paris, France address for him.
Is Omar Harfouch a foreign government?
No. The Exhibit A filing lists Omar Harfouch as an individual of Lebanese nationality. It describes him as a Lebanese-French businessman, activist and philanthropist who founded Third Republic, a civil society movement for political reform in Lebanon.
Who owns Bluelight Strategies?
Bluelight Strategies is the business name of Rabinowitz, Inc. Its registration statement says the corporation is owned and controlled by Steven Rabinowitz, who is listed as President.
Did Bluelight Strategies report being paid by Omar Harfouch?
Its registration statement, filed 2022-12-08, lists "Nothing Received" from Harfouch for the 60 days before its duty to register began. It also lists "Nothing Disbursed" on his behalf.
Is Bluelight Strategies still registered for Omar Harfouch?
No. A supplemental statement filed 2023-07-28 says the connection with Harfouch ended 12/31/2022. The DOJ index lists the registration as terminated 2022-12-31.
What work did Bluelight Strategies do for Omar Harfouch?
Inconclusive. The firm describes its regular business as media and communications consulting and government affairs. But the sources provided do not include an Exhibit B describing the agreement, so the specific work is not shown here.
Sources
- [1]U.S. Department of Justice, FARA Unit, Rabinowitz, Inc. d/b/a Bluelight Strategies: Exhibit AB, stamped 2022-12-08, December 8, 2022. Primary record“Omar Harfouch is a Lebanese-French businessman, activist and philanthropist.”
- [2]U.S. Department of Justice, FARA Unit, Rabinowitz, Inc. d/b/a Bluelight Strategies: Registration Statement, stamped 2022-12-08, December 8, 2022. Primary record“The corporation is owned and controlled by Steven Rabinowitz.”
- [3]U.S. Department of Justice, FARA Unit, FARA filing index for Rabinowitz, Inc. d/b/a Bluelight Strategies (No. 7200), July 28, 2023. Primary record
- [4]U.S. Department of Justice, FARA Unit, Rabinowitz, Inc. d/b/a Bluelight Strategies: Supplemental Statement, stamped 2023-07-28, July 28, 2023. Primary record