Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign is scheduled to fundraise later this month with a lobbyist who has represented a pharmaceutical company that Clinton criticizes in a new campaign advertisement.
Clinton accuses Valeant Pharmaceuticals of engaging in "predatory pricing" in the campaign advertisement out Tuesday, promising to "go after" the company, according to Stat News. The ad, which is airing in Michigan and Kansas, is Clinton’s latest attempt to convey her promise to crack down on drug companies, Valeant in particular.
However, one of the lobbyists that Clinton’s campaign chairman John Podesta is scheduled to fundraise alongside on March 21 has lobbied for Valeant Pharmaceuticals, the International Business Times reported.
Podesta, himself a former lobbyist, will host the fundraiser alongside several lobbyists for the Hillary Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee for the Clinton campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and 32 state parties.
The fundraiser, which will take place in the nation’s capital, will be co-hosted by Steve Elmendorf, Jeff Forbes, Susan Brophy, and David Castagnetti, all of whom are D.C. lobbyists, according to the invitation. Supporters needed to raise at least $5,000 for the Hillary Victory Fund in order to be elevated to co-host.
Castagnetti co-founded Mehlman Castagnetti, one of Washington’s top-grossing lobbying firms, which has lobbied on behalf of Valeant Pharmaceuticals.
Valeant said Monday that it is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for its controversial drug pricing practices.