LIV Golf is “Lawyering Up” With High-Powered Washington, D.C. Lobbyist Firm

The much-publicized “framework agreement” with the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) got the attention of lawmakers in Washington, D.C. shortly after the announcement of the deal was made on June 6.

U.S. senators invited members from the PGA Tour and the PIF, which controls LIV Golf, to testify about anti-trust concerns to Congress.

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While representatives from the PGA Tour did testify, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan both declined to appear, citing scheduling conflicts. But lawmakers said that they would continue to seek testimony from the pair.

To help try and refrain from testifying, Politico is reporting that the PIF has retained attorneys at Akin Gump Strauss & Feld, which is one of the more powerful lobbying firms in the D.C. area.

The Saudi-backed LIV Golf has hired a lobbying firm to advance its interests in D.C., lobbying registration filings show. https://t.co/CU8GF7m9rJ

— Axios (@axios) August 26, 2022

Lawyers for the PIF say that since the PIF is controlled by a separate country, it shouldn’t have to testify in front of U.S. lawmakers.

“An unprecedented effort by the Subcommittee to compel [Al-Rumayyan’s] appearance and testimony would not only disrupt the delicate balance of foreign relations and international diplomacy, but would also compromise the prerogatives of the Executive Branch,” lawyers wrote in a letter sent to the Justice Department last week.

The letter goes on to state that Congress is trying to seek information into the PIF’s other investments.

LIV Golf retains high-powered Akin Gump Strauss & Feld amid congressional probe: @Politico | https://t.co/S1m5XI0IVl pic.twitter.com/SUKhr7fWAd

— Ted Hearn (@TedatPolicyBand) September 3, 2023

“[T]he information requested is subject to multiple Saudi laws protecting its confidentiality, very much akin to laws protecting the sensitive information and deliberative processes of the United States government and its instrumentalities,” attorneys wrote.

The letter did state that “an appropriate representative of the PIF” would be willing to brief senators, but it didn’t say whether it would be Al-Rumayyan himself. It also said that no agreement has been made between the PIF and the PGA Tour.

Cover Image via Twitter