Setting the Record Straight

Global Witness presents evidence suggesting that David Bernhardt, the nominee for US Interior Department Secretary, may have misled Congress during his 2017 confirmation as Deputy Secretary by denying involvement in lobbying activities for Access Industries. The organization highlights that Bernhardt was previously listed as a lobbyist for Access in multiple reports filed by his law firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (BHFS), but these records were amended to remove his name just days before his 2017 nomination and shortly after a $1 million payment from Access to the Trump Inaugural Committee became public. Global Witness contends that Bernhardt's specialized expertise in energy and natural resources makes it unlikely he was not involved in supporting the firm's work for Access. The document also calls for the Senate to pass the For the People Act (H.R.1) to improve lobbying disclosure and regulate inauguration payments.

• David Bernhardt may have misled Congress in 2017 by stating he did not engage in lobbying activities for Access Industries, despite being listed as a lobbyist for the company in multiple reports filed by his law firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (BHFS), in 2011 and 2012.
• The lobbying records at BHFS were amended to remove Bernhardt's name from Access lobbying disclosure forms in April 2017, occurring one week after a $1 million payment from Access Industries to the Trump Inaugural Committee was published and two days before Bernhardt's formal nomination as Deputy Secretary.
• Global Witness argues it is unlikely Bernhardt was uninvolved in Access's lobbying because he was the leading expert at BHFS on the specific topics Access sought to address, such as "energy" and "natural resources," while other lobbyists on the account lacked this expertise.
• The document notes that Access Industries is majority-owned by Leonard Blavatnik, who co-owns the Russian aluminum producer RUSAL with oligarchs Viktor Vekselberg and Oleg Deripaska, both of whom have been subject to U.S. sanctions.
• Bernhardt has faced other scrutiny regarding conflicts of interest, including allegations that he directed staff as Deputy Secretary to ease environmental regulations that would benefit Westlands Water District, a former client.
• The document advocates for the passage of the For the People Act (H.R.1), which would restrict inauguration payments, bar foreign nationals from making such payments, and lower the time threshold for lobbying registration from 20 percent to 10 percent.

APA

Global Witness (n.d.). Setting the Record Straight. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/oil-gas-and-mining/setting-the-record-straight/

Chicago

Global Witness. Setting the Record Straight. n.d. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/oil-gas-and-mining/setting-the-record-straight/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Global Witness |title=Setting the Record Straight |url=https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/oil-gas-and-mining/setting-the-record-straight/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{globalwitnessndsetting, author = {{Global Witness}}, title = {{Setting the Record Straight}}, publisher = {Global Witness}, url = {https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/oil-gas-and-mining/setting-the-record-straight/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }