PCA Severs Ties With Federal Advocates, Lobbying Firm Accused of Lying about Ties to Trump

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has announced that it has terminated its contract with Federal Advocates, a lobbying firm that came under fire in November after The Washington Post published a story pointing out the firm’s claims about its ties to the Trump Administration did not hold up to scrutiny.

Yesterday, FBI agents raided the Federal Advocates office and the home of its founder.

Scott Pearce, executive director of PCA, told halfwheel that the organization would make a statement following the early November news, it never did and stuck with the firm until today.

“The PCA continues to be active in its advocacy efforts in achieving smart regulatory relief for the premium cigar industry,” said John Anderson, PCA president, in a statement. “We have a lot of momentum going in the right direction from some great work we accomplished at the end of last year and we are optimistic we can accomplish some important goals moving forward.”

As of Sept. 30, PCA had spent $90,000 with Federal Advocates, an amount equal to the money it spent with Cozen O’Connor, a much more established firm.

Its statement made no reference to the FBI raid.

---

In a short period of time, Federal Advocates went from an unknown firm to one attracting seven-figure commitments from clients. It boasted of ties to President Donald Trump, his children, the Republican National Committee and others, but The Washington Post reported that those people described Esposito’s relationships as either false or grossly overstated.

Following the original story, Trump himself tweeted that he did not know Esposito.

Many people say they know me, claiming to be “best friends” and really close etc., when I don’t know these people at all. This happens, I suppose, to all who become President. With that being stated, I don’t know, to the best of my knowledge, a man named Michael Esposito…..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 4, 2019