Former Kasich adviser registers to lobby against sanctions on Russia

John Weaver, a lead strategist on former Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s 2016 presidential campaign, plans to lobby against Russian sanctions. 

Weaver has registered as a foreign agent and will lobby on behalf of the Tenam Corporation, which is a subsidiary of a nuclear energy company that is owned by the Russian government, Politico reported Wednesday. 

He will attempt to influence Congress and the Trump administration on “sanctions or other restrictions in the area of atomic (nuclear) energy, trade or cooperation involving in any way the Russian Federation,” Politico reported, citing a disclosure filing. {mosads}

The news outlet reported that he received a six-month, $350,000 contract, but it is not clear what specific sanctions he will lobby against. 

In February, Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) introduced legislation that would increase sanctions on the country over its work to influence the 2016 presidential election and its actions in Ukraine and Syria.

Tenam President Fletcher Newton told Politico that Weaver was hired to fight legislation that would cause difficulties in purchasing Russian nuclear fuel. 

Weaver will “work with Congress and, hopefully, make sure they don’t come up with something vis-a-vis Russia that ends up hurting the United States,” Newton said. 

Weaver also advised the presidential campaigns of the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).