Gillespie Now Claims He Didn’t Lobby -- But Eight Tyson Lobbying Disclosure Forms Listed Him by Name

 In a new story regarding Quinn Gillespie & Associates’ lobbying efforts for Tyson Foods, it was noted that Ed Gillespie was a consultant on the Tysons’ account. Yet, those involved are ignoring the fact that Gillespie was listed as a lobbyist on eight Senate lobbying disclosure reports.

National Journal reports:

Tyson spokes­man Gary Mick­el­son said Monday that Quinn Gillespie, but not Gillespie him­self, “was hired for pub­lic af­fairs con­sult­ing, not lob­by­ing, when our com­pany was fa­cing im­mig­ra­tion charges” of which it was later ac­quit­ted. Gillespie spokes­man Dav­id Ab­rams said the fil­ing in­cluded Gillespie “to avoid run­ning afoul of lob­by­ing dis­clos­ure rules,” and that “his former firm of­ten re­gistered every­one there un­der every cli­ent.”

Quinn Gillespie & Associates were hired to represent Tyson Foods when they were charged with bringing in and harboring aliens. According to the Department of Justice, “Tyson Foods cultivated a corporate culture in which the hiring of illegal alien workers was….to maximize profits.” Some of the smuggled immigrants were brought to Virginia to work.

Tyson Foods paid $1.14 million to QGA while Gillespie was listed as a lobbyist on the account.

“It’s very misleading that Ed Gillespie interchangeably uses the words consulting and lobbying -- particularly when he is listed as a lobbyist on numerous Tyson Food Senate lobbying disclosure reports,” said DPVA spokeswoman Christina Freundlich. “Examples from Gillespie’s past like this should raise questions for all Virginians on if he will be an honest, transparent and ethical governor. Despite the writing on the wall, will Gillespie be able to differentiate between consultant and lobbyist as the Commonwealth’s chief executive?”

Background:

QGA Received $1,140,000 from Tyson While Gillespie Acted as Lobbyist on Account. According to the Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, Tyson Foods paid $1,140,000 to QGA while Gillespie was listed as a lobbyist on the Tyson’s account.  [Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, Tyson Foods, 2007 Mid-Year;  Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, Tyson Foods, 2006 Year End; Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, Tyson Foods, 2006 Mid-Year; Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, Tyson Foods, 2005 Year End;Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, Tyson Foods, 2003 Mid-Year; Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, Tyson Foods, 2002 Year End; Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, Tyson Foods, 2002 Mid-Year;  Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, Tyson Foods, 2001 Year End]