LANSING — New reporting from American Journal News details how Mike Rogers’ net worth increased by 2,000% by doing “business with corrupt foreign governments,” including companies that “stole trade secrets from American corporations” and worked to “persuad[e] policymakers to support the construction of nuclear reactors in the Middle East.”
After he left Congress, Rogers took on “lucrative consulting gigs for big corporations” including “businesses with shady foreign interests.” Rogers worked for AT&T at the same time the company “was trying to broker a deal with Huawei, a Chinese cell phone manufacturer,” despite the fact that “in Congress, Rogers led an investigation that concluded Huawei was an arm of the Chinese government, had stolen trade secrets from American corporations, and could potentially spy on Americans.”
This is just the latest in a series of reports about Rogers abandoning Michigan and selling out to American adversaries including China and Saudi Arabia to enrich himself.
“Mike Rogers sold out our national security to China so he could enrich himself at Michiganders’ expense. Rogers’ record is clear – he is only in this race for himself and his wealthy special interest backers while Michigan families pay the price,” said Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Sam Chan.
Read American Journal News’ reporting on Rogers’ “2000% increase” in his net worth after “consulting for businesses with shady foreign interests:”
American Journal News: Mike Rogers résumé includes consulting for businesses with shady foreign interests
- When former Rep. Mike Rogers left Congress in 2015, his net worth was estimated at $655,000. Today, he is worth $13 million. This 2,000% increase is the result of lucrative consulting gigs for big corporations, some of which did business with corrupt foreign governments.
- According to Rogers’ 2023 financial disclosures, he served on the board or as a consultant for at least 23 organizations and companies. He reported an income of $2 million and an additional $1.2 million earned through investments in various mutual funds.
- One of the companies that Rogers listed was Telefónica, a Spanish telecommunications company that is also one of the largest wireless providers in Venezuela. From 2018 to 2023, Rogers was on the company’s Technical and Security Advisory Committee. In 2023, Rogers was paid $20,731 for this work.
- Between 2016 and 2021, Telefónica reported that more than a million of its Venezuelan customers had their phones tapped by autocrat Nicolás Maduro’s government. Telefónica is legally required to comply with government directives in the countries where it operates. As such, the Venezuelan government requested which phone lines it wanted monitored and Telefónica made that surveillance possible.
- Another organization Rogers worked for was IP3 International, a nuclear technology company. The company was formed in 2016 with the purpose of persuading policymakers to support the construction of nuclear reactors in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia. IP3 did this by pushing for less stringent regulations on Saudi Arabia’s nuclear program. If enacted, this could have enabled Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons.
- Rogers also did work for AT&T. He was hired by the telecommunication giant in 2016 to be their Chief Security Adviser. At the time, AT&T was trying to broker a deal with Huawei, a Chinese cell phone manufacturer.
- In Congress, Rogers led an investigation that concluded Huawei was an arm of the Chinese government, had stolen trade secrets from American corporations, and could potentially spy on Americans.
See also: Detroit News: Mike Rogers targets China in Senate campaign, but his own connections draw criticism, Business Insider: 9 years through the revolving door: How the GOP’s top Senate recruit in Michigan got rich after leaving Congress, Heartland Signal: Michigan GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers connected to Saudi companies, including one with nuclear ambitions, Michigan Independent: Bankrolled by pharmaceuticals, Mike Rogers helped block Medicare price negotiation, Michigan Independent: Mike Rogers says he supports UAW strike but fought against union consistently in Congress, Heartland Signal: Michigan Senate candidate spews anti-China rhetoric despite working to expand Chinese companies and personal wealth, The Gander: Mike Rogers voted against reining in special interests. Now he’s running for US Senate, American Journal News: Mike Rogers’ ties to Chinese telecom giants fuel hypocrisy scandal, American Journal News: Michigan Republican Mike Rogers has repeatedly dodged questions about his work at AT&T, American Journal News: Michigan Republican Mike Rogers worked for organization that threatened privacy rights.
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