The brother of one of President-elect Joe Biden’s top advisers recently entered into a lobbying contract with tech giant Amazon.
Jeff Ricchetti, brother of Biden’s designated White House adviser Steve Ricchetti
Steve Ricchetti Brother of Biden advisor Ricchetti, hired as lobbyist at Amazon Left, raises pressure on Biden for ethical pledge of lobbying Biden forms team of insiders MORE, registered to lobby for Amazon Web Services, the tech company’s cloud platform, on Nov. 13, according to a new disclosure report obtained by CNBC.
The report comes next ethics lawyers told CNBC last month that Steve Ricchetti may have to retire from things that could potentially affect his brother’s customers.
However, a source familiar with the brothers’ relationship told CNBC that the two plan to separate their professional and personal lives.
“Jeff never and never will lobby his brother on behalf of his clients, and Steve has not played a part in his brother’s business since he sold his stake in the company in 2012,” the source said on condition of anonymity. because the relationship is private, the news outlet said.
The Hill has reached out to the Biden transition team, Jeff Ricchetti and Amazon for comment on the reported contract.
Biden in May said during an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that Amazon “has to start paying its taxes.”
“I don’t think a company, I don’t give a damn how big they are, the Lord Almighty, should absolutely be in a position where they don’t pay taxes and make billions and billions and billions of dollars, No. 1,” added Biden at the time.
According to CNBC, the disclosure report indicates that Jeff Ricchetti plans to lobby for Amazon, specifically on issues related to the coronavirus pandemic and the CARES Act.
The report also noted that Ricchetti also registered to lobby for Evofem Biosciences on Nov. 15, which will make him focus on “federal health policies related to coverage for birth control services.”
This comes as progressive lawmakers have urged Biden to make an ethical pledge similar to the executive order of the former president Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama Brother of Biden advisor Ricchetti hired as Amazon Arms control lobbyist held hostage Press: Biden inauguration: Don’t invite Trump MORE that imposed restrictions on former lobbyists who worked in the White House.
Steve Ricchetti previously worked as a lobbyist Tom Vilsack
Tom VilsackUSDA: Farm to School Programs Help Schools Serve Healthier Meals OVERNIGHT MONEY: House ready to pay debt ceiling bill MORE, Biden’s choice of agricultural secretary.
Meaning. Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren Brother of Biden Advisor Ricchetti, Hired as Amazon Left Lobbyist Raises Pressure on Biden for Lobbying Ethical Pledge (D-Mass.), Ed Markey
Ed Markey Brother of Biden adviser Ricchetti, hired as lobbyist at Amazon Left, steps up pressure on Biden for lobbying ethics pledge Warren and other senators seek investigation into Trump administration resuming federal executions MORE (D-Mass.) And Jeff Merkley
Jeff Merkley Brother of Biden advisor Ricchetti, hired as a lobbyist at Amazon Left Raises Pressure on Biden for Ethical Pledge of Lobbying MSNBC’s Ruhle Challenges Sanders in Striving for, 200 Stimulus Checks MORE (D-Ore.) wrote to Biden this week looking for an ethical pledge that includes a total ban on lobbyists employed by corporations to serve in government and require more comprehensive public reporting of all lobbying activities directed at the White House.
“We support your commitment to demonstrate by your actions – not just your words – that officials in the Biden-Harris administration serve all Americans, not just themselves or limited special interests,” the legislators wrote.
Biden has not set out the details of such a pledge, but has said it will enhance the Obama administration’s commitment and “address not only the undue influence of lobbyists, but also any improper or improper influence of personal, financial and other. interests, ”said on its website.