Washington, D.C. – Palantir has hired several Democratic-connected lobbyists as the data analytics company faces growing scrutiny over its work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Sludge reported that Palantir retained Avoq LLC effective May 1 to lobby on “government programs supported by commercial technology.” The team includes Steve Elmendorf, a longtime Democratic fundraiser and former chief of staff to Rep. Dick Gephardt, and Cedric Grant, a former chief of staff to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Other Avoq lobbyists listed for Palantir previously worked for Democratic lawmakers.
Palantir also added former Democratic Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska through Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck to lobby on government programs related to artificial intelligence.
The hires come as Palantir’s ICE work has become politically sensitive. Federal records show Palantir has an ICE contract worth more than $150 million for investigative case management, and ICE awarded the company an $86.3 million order in May for enforcement and removal operations modernization.
Some Democratic lawmakers have returned or redirected Palantir-linked campaign donations after activist pressure. Palantir and its supporters argue the company provides government technology tools, while critics say its systems support aggressive deportation operations.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
