NEW … Playbook PM: The swamp is coming from inside the (White) House!
WEST WING EYEBROW RAISER … THE SWAMP CREEPS CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT! … On 2 occasions over the last few days, CHRIS COX -- who runs House outreach for the WH leg affairs -- suggested to colleagues he was doing errands and collecting political intelligence for lobbyist friends
-- COX told colleagues in the White House that he was seeking information on the executive orders that President DONALD TRUMP was readying to issue so he could brief people downtown -- in other words, suggesting he wanted to give lobbyists a sneak peek.
-- ON WEDNESDAY, COX emailed with fellow White House aides and officials on the NSC, seeking to push along an exemption for Gulfstream to deliver private jets overseas after he had a conversation with General Dynamics’ lobbyist. A spokesman for GD declined to comment.
AS THE TOP HOUSE LEG AFFAIRS OFFICIAL, COX’S job is primarily to help execute the administration’s priorities on Capitol Hill. He worked in the legislative affairs shop during GEORGE W. BUSH’S administration. Prior to joining the White House in March, COX himself was a lobbyist.
IT WAS NOTABLE TO MANY PEOPLE at all levels of the White House that he was openly collecting political intelligence for corporate special interests and lobbyists on K Street from deep inside the sanctum of the White House.
W.H. SPOKESMAN JUDD DEERE said: “I’m not seeing anything nefarious here.” COX did not reply to a request for comment.
