Re: Hey there, and a quick heads up

From:Frank_J_Benenati@who.eop.gov To: john.podesta@gmail.com Date: 2015-03-22 17:25 Subject: Re: Hey there, and a quick heads up

From her: It's not an accusation, it is just saying that even with the ethics order, people who have performed advocacy have served in the administration. Let me clarify with her. And sorry I didn't get a chance to say hello at Jen's goodbye party! Don't get the context but all that is public record. Probably not worth worrying about, but What's she accusing me of? JP --Sent from my iPad-- john.podesta@gmail.com<mailto:john.podesta@gmail.com> For scheduling: eryn.sepp@gmail.com<mailto:eryn.sepp@gmail.com> On Mar 22, 2015, at 1:36 PM, Benenati, Frank <Frank_J_Benenati@who.eop.gov<mailto:Frank_J_Benenati@who.eop.gov>> wrote: Here is what she came back with. Let me know what you think and I can call her: But just to put it in context, pretty far down in the story I mention that there are some folks in the administration who were not registered lobbyists before entering the government, but had served as advocates in their capacity as senior officials in groups that received financial backing from firms or individuals with public policy objectives. In that context, I have this: And the liberal think tank Center for American Progress--which former White House senior counselor John D. Podesta founded, and helped lead before joining the administration to oversee its climate and public lands agenda--had accepted major donations from environmentally-minded billionaires Tom Steyer and Hansjorg Wyss before he joined Obama's staff. Let me know if there are any issues with it, but the donations from Steyer and Wyss are a matter of public record. I'm not mentioning the contract Podesta had with Wyss because you never got back to me on that, and I didn't want to mention it without getting some sort of response in advance. And the story will run tomorrow if it makes A1; otherwise it will hold. Thanks, Juliet Hey there, Let me check in with her on this. Ill circle back. Frank Do you know where she is coming from on this? JP On Mar 22, 2015 11:53 AM, "Costa, Kristina" <Kristina_L_Costa@who.eop.gov<mailto:Kristina_L_Costa@who.eop.gov>> wrote: Sorry I didn't see this earlier. + Frank. Let us know if you need anything. ----- Can you add Frank to this chain. I don't have his email. JP --Sent from my iPad-- john.podesta@gmail.com<mailto:john.podesta@gmail.com> For scheduling: eryn.sepp@gmail.com<mailto:eryn.sepp@gmail.com> > On Mar 21, 2015, at 10:21 PM, Costa, Kristina <Kristina_L_Costa@who.eop.gov<mailto:Kristina_L_Costa@who.eop.gov>> wrote: > > Howdy. Frank fwded to me, am sure you saw, but just making sure. > > > ----- > From: Benenati, Frank > Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2015 07:29 PM > To: Costa, Kristina > Subject: Fw: Hey there, and a quick heads up > > > ----- > From: Eilperin, Juliet [mailto:Juliet.Eilperin@washpost.com<mailto:Juliet.Eilperin@washpost.com>] > Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2015 07:24 PM > To: Benenati, Frank > Subject: FW: Hey there, and a quick heads up > > Dear Frank, > Nice to see you last night, I hope you had fun. I sent this note to Eryn yesterday, I just wanted to make sure John Podesta had a heads up that his name will be in a story concerning the White House's ethics policy, which could run on Monday. I don't mention anything specific about the Wyss contract (since I never got a response from you on it), but I do mention that both Wyss and Steyer were CAP donors while he headed the organization. > > This is just one line, pretty low down in the piece, but I don't want him to be surprised since we never discussed it face-to-face. Can you just make sure he gets this note over the weekend? > > Thanks very much. > Juliet > > Juliet Eilperin > White House Bureau Chief > Washington Post > juliet.eilperin@washpost.com<mailto:juliet.eilperin@washpost.com> > (O) 202-334-7774<tel:202-334-7774> > (C) 202-302-3663<tel:202-302-3663> > @eilperin > > ----- > From: Eilperin, Juliet > Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 5:15 PM > To: Eryn Sepp > Subject: Hey there, and a quick heads up > > Dear Eryn, > I hope you had a great time on your cruise, and have had a less-hectic schedule since returning to CAP. > > I just wanted to give you and John a heads up on a story that might run as early as Monday. Long story short, it's about the ethics rules Obama adopted in 2009, and how they've been implemented. In that context, I mention that some WH officials have had ties to advocacy groups and activists before entering the WH even if they weren't formally lobbyists. I mention that John accepted donations from Hansjorg Wyss and Tom Steyer when he headed CAP, and obviously they care about environmental issues. I had asked Frank about this when John was still in the WH, but we never closed the loop on this. > > Anyway, it is just one line well into the text of a long story, but I didn't want it to catch you both off guard. > Best, > Juliet