Belle Haven Consultants
Encyclopedia
In 1997, The Heritage Foundation
's president Edwin Feulner
and Heritage's Asian policy expert Ken Sheffer formed a for-profit entity, Belle Haven Consultants. Feulner's wife, Linda Feulner, later took his place as a partner until 2001, when she became a paid senior adviser in the firm.
Belle Haven, the Heritage Foundation, and the Alexander Strategy Group
(ASG) shared the same office, Suite 401 of the Baskerville House office building, in Central Hong Kong. Belle Haven was a subcontractor, then was purchased by ASG partner Edward Stewart (co-owner with long-time associate Beth Allison Cave); was a client of ASG's lobbying business. (ASG closed in 2006 because of the Jack Abramoff
scandal.)
By the end of 2001, Belle Haven had hired ASG for help "promoting and advocating Malaysia's positive investment climate and business opportunities" in connection with a company called PK Baru Energy. A new group called the US-Malaysia Exchange Association also hired ASG for support "enhancing the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and the US." Megat Junid, an associate of then-prime minister Mahathir Mohammed, said in a 2004 interview that he organized Malaysia Exchange after talks with Edwin Feulner.
In 2001, House majority leader Tom DeLay
and three other congressmen traveled to Malaysia with their spouses on a trip officially sponsored by Heritage. Heritage senior fellow and former U.S. Senator Malcolm Wallop
, who went on the trip, told Time magazine that Belle Haven's financial involvement was more important to the trip than Heritage's. In the following months, more congressmen made their way to Kuala Lumpur
, the capital of Malaysia and senior Malaysian officials began beating a path to Washington, an interchange that climaxed with Mahathir visiting the White House in May 2002, his first state visit in eight years. Though in past years Heritage had been publicly critical of Mahathir, Feulner hosted a dinner reception on that visit to honor the prime minister.
According to US Senate records, Belle Haven paid ASG at least $620,000 between September 2001 and January 2006. Belle Haven also hired three other Washington lobbying firms, including the Western Strategy Group, run by Wallop, and the Harbour Group
, around the same time, to support its Malaysian campaign, paying them a total of $780,000.
The Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation is a conservative American think tank based in Washington, D.C. Heritage's stated mission is to "formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong...
's president Edwin Feulner
Edwin Feulner
Edwin John Feulner Jr. is President of the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, a position he has held since 1977....
and Heritage's Asian policy expert Ken Sheffer formed a for-profit entity, Belle Haven Consultants. Feulner's wife, Linda Feulner, later took his place as a partner until 2001, when she became a paid senior adviser in the firm.
Belle Haven, the Heritage Foundation, and the Alexander Strategy Group
Alexander Strategy Group
Alexander Strategy Group was an American lobbying firm involved in the K Street Project, founded by Ed Buckham and his wife Wendy. Buckham is a former chief of staff of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and the firm openly promoted its access to DeLay. Its chief lobbyist was Paul Behrends.In...
(ASG) shared the same office, Suite 401 of the Baskerville House office building, in Central Hong Kong. Belle Haven was a subcontractor, then was purchased by ASG partner Edward Stewart (co-owner with long-time associate Beth Allison Cave); was a client of ASG's lobbying business. (ASG closed in 2006 because of the Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff is an American former lobbyist and businessman. Convicted in 2006 of mail fraud and conspiracy, he was at the heart of an extensive corruption investigation that led to the conviction of White House officials J. Steven Griles and David Safavian, U.S. Representative Bob Ney, and nine...
scandal.)
By the end of 2001, Belle Haven had hired ASG for help "promoting and advocating Malaysia's positive investment climate and business opportunities" in connection with a company called PK Baru Energy. A new group called the US-Malaysia Exchange Association also hired ASG for support "enhancing the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and the US." Megat Junid, an associate of then-prime minister Mahathir Mohammed, said in a 2004 interview that he organized Malaysia Exchange after talks with Edwin Feulner.
In 2001, House majority leader Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
and three other congressmen traveled to Malaysia with their spouses on a trip officially sponsored by Heritage. Heritage senior fellow and former U.S. Senator Malcolm Wallop
Malcolm Wallop
Malcolm Wallop was a Republican politician and former three-term United States Senator from Wyoming.-Early years:...
, who went on the trip, told Time magazine that Belle Haven's financial involvement was more important to the trip than Heritage's. In the following months, more congressmen made their way to Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, the capital of Malaysia and senior Malaysian officials began beating a path to Washington, an interchange that climaxed with Mahathir visiting the White House in May 2002, his first state visit in eight years. Though in past years Heritage had been publicly critical of Mahathir, Feulner hosted a dinner reception on that visit to honor the prime minister.
According to US Senate records, Belle Haven paid ASG at least $620,000 between September 2001 and January 2006. Belle Haven also hired three other Washington lobbying firms, including the Western Strategy Group, run by Wallop, and the Harbour Group
Harbour Group
The Harbour Group is a Washington, D.C. based boutique public relations firm. Founded in 2001, the firm focuses on three practice areas: issues management, public relations, and crisis communications...
, around the same time, to support its Malaysian campaign, paying them a total of $780,000.