Maroc : l'épargne nationale à 28,8% du PIB au T4-2024    TF1 sur les traces de ces expatriés français en quête d'"une nouvelle vie" à Essaouira    Un nouveau sommet historique pour l'or    Le Roi Mohammed VI accomplit la prière de l'Aïd Al-Fitr depuis Rabat    Marine Le Pen condamnée à 4 ans de prison et à une peine d'inéligibilité    Soldats américains disparus : leur véhicule retiré d'un marais lituanien    Real Sociedad récupère Aguerd avant le choc contre le Real Madrid en Coupe du Roi    Renforts sécuritaires massifs à Belyounech pour contrer les infiltrations vers Sebta    L'Aïd au rythme du sacrifice : Ces travailleurs qui assurent la continuité des services essentiels    Aïd Al Fitr célébré ce lundi 31 mars 2025 au Maroc    Amir Al-Mouminine accomplira lundi la prière de l'Aïd Al Fitr à la mosquée « Ahl Fès » à Rabat    Climat des affaires : Ces lacunes qui freinent les réformes du Maroc    Transport interurbain : Un fardeau récurrent pour les voyageurs à l'occasion de l'Aïd    Aïd Al Fitr: Grâce Royale au profit de 1533 personnes    Aïd Al Fitr : Grâce Royale au profit de 1533 personnes    Le besoin de financement du Trésor estimé à 147 milliards de dirhams en 2025    La Chine et l'Afrique de l'Ouest : Nouvelles perspectives de coopération économique et de développement conjoint    CAN U17: Les Lionceaux vainqueurs en ouverture    Coupe du Trône : programme des 8è de finale    Aïd Al Fitr : Amir Al Mouminine, adresse des cartes de vœux aux Chefs d'État des pays islamiques    L'ambassadeur de Chine au Maroc présente ses vœux aux Marocains à l'occasion de l'Aïd al-Fitr    Le Festival du Printemps Local de retour à Tanger    Jazzablanca : Le groupe australien Parcels jouera à Jazzablanca le jeudi 10 juillet    Le Niger se retire de la Force mixte anti-terroriste autour du lac Tchad    Interdiction temporaire de la pêche de la Seiche au sud de Sidi Ghazi    Foot/CAN-U17: M. Lekjaa incite les joueurs de la sélection marocaine à « livrer une performance digne de la réputation du football national »    France: La violence dans le football ne cesse de prendre de l'ampleur    Maroc-Inde: l'ambassadeur du Maroc à New Delhi rencontre un haut responsable militaire indien    Alger interdit à ses diplomates tout déplacement en France, y compris en transit    ¿Dónde ver el partido Marruecos-Angola de la CAN Sub-17 este domingo por la noche?    Aïd Al Fitr : Appel à redoubler de vigilance et à prendre les précautions de sécurité sur les routes    Sixtine Félix reveals why she changed her stance in Bennis-Alj-Slaoui rape case    Ouarzazate : plus de 230 millions de dirhams pour des projets de développement socio-économique et sportif    Le président de X-Links menace de délocaliser la liaison reliant le Maroc au Royaume-Uni face à l'inaction de Londres et qualifie Rabat de «future puissance des énergies renouvelables»    Maroc : des sinistrés du séisme contraints de signer un engagement contesté    Syrie : Formation d'un nouveau gouvernement    Criquets pèlerins en Tunisie : des experts de la FAO évaluent la situation    Ramadan : 69,1% de PdA pour la télévision publique marocaine    Jazzablanca 2025 : Le groove australien s'invite avec Parcels    Pour l'IMAP, le Plan Maroc Vert a favorisé des cultures intensives en eau au détriment de variétés plus adaptées aux conditions arides    L'Aïd El Fitr célébré lundi en Egypte, en Jordanie, au Sultanat Oman, en Syrie et en Irak    Liga : Une victoire ''polémique'' du Real avant Barça-Gérone de cet après-midi    CAN U17 / Ce soir, Maroc - Ouganda: Horaire et chaînes ?    Polisario : Après les policiers, les enseignants sont privés de salaires    Rabat : Cérémonie en célébration de la Journée mondiale du théâtre    Ramadan 2025 : Les Marocains préfèrent le pôle audiovisuel public    Nuit du Destin à El Jadida : Une Symphonie de Traditions et de Foi    Deux Marocains remportent les première et troisième places du prix Katara pour la récitation du Saint Coran    







Merci d'avoir signalé!
Cette image sera automatiquement bloquée après qu'elle soit signalée par plusieurs personnes.



Scott Pruitt's visit to Morocco initiated by a lobbyist hired later by the Kingdom's embassy
Publié dans Yabiladi le 02 - 05 - 2018

Recent revelations show that Scott Pruitt's visit to Morocco was arranged by an American lobbyist. The latter has signed later a $40.000 contract with the Moroccan Embassy in Washington.
An American Lobbyist has arranged Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt's controversial visit to Morocco, revealed Le Desk last week and confirmed New York Times and the Washington Post in two investigative papers.
The four-day trip was scheduled by Richard Smotkin, a former Comcast lobbyist and a longtime friend of Pruitt, well-informed sources told the Washington Post.
In fact, Smotkin's role in the trip, which has reportedly cost $100.000 and was marked by promoting Liquefied Gas imports, is allegedly connected to a $40.000 contract he signed with the Moroccan Embassy in Washington. The latter was signed in January to promote the kingdom's cultural and economic interests.
Richard Smotkin./Ph. DR
In a story appeared last week, French-language online newspaper Le Desk published a copy of the signed contract. Through his firm «Third Circle», Smotkin concluded the deal with the embassy of Morocco in Washington, promising to «craft and outreach program to provide opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue with various stakeholders ethnic/issue-oriented groups across a range of issue from culture to economics».
The contract signed in January, one month after Pruitt's December trip to Morocco, has also promised to promote the country as a film and world-class golf destination.
Attending meetings in Morocco
However, after Pruitt has been at the heart of a huge scandal in the USA, questioned about his lavish domestic travel and security costs, reports emerged giving details about Smotkin's involvement in EPA chief's trip to Morocco and suspicious activities there.
Reportedly, Smotkin has attended the visit Pruitt made to the Green Energy Park in Ben Guerir and the one that brought him together with OCP's executive.
The lobbyist had also joined Scott Pruitt for dinner during his final night in Marrakech, EPA told the Washington Post.
Responding to allegations, Pruitt said last week in a congress hearing that the reason why he went on the trip was because he received an invitation from Morocco's ambassador in the United States, namely Lalla Joumala Alaoui.
Replying to a question asked by Rep. Chellie Pingree, the EPA chief said that he was «asked by the Moroccan embassy to discussed natural gas exports» once in the North African Kingdom.
EPA's chief Scott Pruitt and Energy Minister Aziz Rabbah./Ph. EPA
Monday, the embassy denied Pruitt's statement in a communiqué insisting that the Republican was sent an official invitation to «promote sustainable development» in the country, adding that :
«All meetings during this working visit were organized through official diplomatic channels with the objective to explore ways and means to deepen and broaden our bilateral work, namely in support of the Kingdom's various initiatives to protect the environment, reduce Morocco's carbon footprint and promote sustainable development».
A known lobbyist
Smotkin's involvement in the Morocco visit was not limited to that only. It has been reported that Smotkin worked with Pruitt and other senior counsels from the agency to arrange parts of the visit's agenda, four individuals close to the file told the Washington Post. They have discussed, according to the same source, Pruitt's ability to speak at the «Atlantic Diologues» a conference held by OCP in Marrakech. Pruitt ended up by not showing up.
The EPA responded in a statement saying that Smotkin «did not attend or participate in any official meetings with the Moroccan government». Meanwhile, Moroccan government officials refused to discuss their dealings with Pruitt when asked by the American newspaper.
The involvement of Smotkin in the trip, however, makes it hard to think that Pruitt has innocently made reference to LNG imports while in Morocco.
The two men knew each other since Pruitt was a deputy in Oklahoma. «During his time in Oklahoma, Mr. Pruitt and Mr. Smotkin developed a friendship as they repeatedly met up at resort destinations», wrote New York Times in an article dedicated to the recent revelations.
EPA's general inspector is currently investigating Pruitt's activities as head of the Environmental agency, including his December trip to Morocco. Moreover, earlier last month reports indicated that Pruitt is renting a condo owned by the wife of an energy lobbyist.


Cliquez ici pour lire l'article depuis sa source.