Morocco's Diplomatic Engagement in Washington
On November 2, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice officially recorded two new documents submitted under registration number 5870 by the esteemed American lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, which is tasked with representing the Kingdom of Morocco's interests in Washington D.C. Among these documents is an informational briefing concerning Iran and the Polisario Front, explicitly highlighting the Moroccan embassy as a foreign principal. On the same day, the firm also filed an amendment to its registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which mandates the disclosure of activities carried out in the United States on behalf of foreign governments.
The two submissions have been incorporated into the public register of the National Security Division of the Department of Justice, extending a representation agreement that was initially established in March. Under this agreement, the Moroccan embassy had committed to pay a monthly fee of $65,000, equivalent to approximately 638,300 dirhams, for the lobbying services provided by Brownstein. The firm had previously submitted additional informational materials for the embassy on May 28, June 3, and September 30, as detailed by barlamane.com.
Strategic Representation and Government Relations
In a commitment letter dated March 17, addressed to Morocco's ambassador in Washington, Youssef Amrani, Brownstein confirmed its role in advocating for the Kingdom's interests before U.S. institutions. This engagement included a defined scope of work referred to as "federal government relations," which aimed to facilitate interactions between the Moroccan embassy and various branches of the U.S. government. The contract stipulated a monthly payment of $65,000 for an initial term of one year, totaling $780,000 over the twelve months, not accounting for reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred during the execution of the mandate. The parties involved planned to negotiate a new arrangement following the completion of the first year of service.
The lobbying efforts are spearheaded by Samantha Carl-Yoder, the firm’s public affairs director, along with Ed Royce, a former member of the House of Representatives, and a team of specialists skilled in institutional relations, legal advisors, and support staff. This contract permits the engagement of Brownstein for additional public policy tasks, subject to applicable agreements. It outlines provisions for conflict of interest management, confidentiality of communications, and adherence to U.S. public contracting regulations, ensuring that the firm’s actions do not influence government officials to favor contracts for reasons unrelated to their merits.
In its March 23 statement, Brownstein acknowledged its political activities as defined by U.S. legislation, detailing several communications with the circle of Republican Senator Ted Cruz regarding a legislative proposal related to the Polisario Front. On March 13, a firm associate, Zachary Marshall, sent two emails to the senator's foreign affairs legislative assistant, Arden Hooper, to request the legislative text. Following this, on March 16, his colleague Kristina Baum reached out to another team member of Senator Cruz, Macarena Martinez, to arrange a discussion regarding the proposal.
Subsequently, on March 17, the firm contacted four of the senator’s aides, namely Madison Sparber, Jonny George, Omri Ceren, and Macarena Martinez, to "organize a conversation regarding the Polisario bill." These communications, whether through email or phone messages, served to gather information and prepare for upcoming discussions. Brownstein has been registered under FARA since June 16, 2008, and an amendment filed on February 24, 2026, indicated the conclusion of its previous relationship with the embassy as of October 1, 2025. This document also officially ended the individual mandates of several associates, including Martha Burke, Brian McGuire, Samantha Carl-Yoder, Zachary Marshall, Alfred Mottur, Ed Royce, and Lauren Diekman. The firm re-registered the embassy under its official name on March 23, providing a copy of its commitment letter.
Enacted in 1938, the FARA law requires foreign government representatives to disclose their principals, political activities, compensation, and certain expenses, along with the informational materials disseminated on behalf of their clients. The Department of Justice categorizes these materials to include printed documents, electronic communications, and content aimed at the public or multiple recipients, all of which must be submitted to authorities within 48 hours of their release.
