The Justice Department has yet to resolve thousands of reported lobbying violations, with some dating back to 2014, the Government Accountability Office found in an audit this week.
According to the 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act, lobbyists have 45 days after the start of their contract to submit their registration to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House, as well as disclosures every quarter that describe their lobbying activities, their compensation, and regular reports on their political contributions.
Any lobbyist or firm that does not fully complete these requirements are first notified by the Senate and the Clerk of the House, who would refer the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia if the lobbyist or firm fails to respond in an adequate manner.
The GAO found that about 74% of the over 3,600 referrals sent to…
