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Judge Orders Pentagon to Suspend Lobbying Restriction on Alibaba
US District Judge Eumi K. Lee directed the Pentagon on Sunday not to apply a new lobbying ban to Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. while she reviews the company's challenge. The temporary order follows Alibaba's June lawsuit against its addition to the Pentagon's 1260H list.
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US District Judge Eumi K. Lee ordered the Pentagon on Sunday not to treat Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. as a Chinese military company under a new lobbying restriction until she resolves the company's motion or 60 days after a hearing on it, whichever comes first.
Alibaba sued the Pentagon on June 23 after the department added the company to its 1260H list on June 8. The list now names 188 Chinese military companies operating in the US. Alibaba filed a June 30 motion seeking relief from the lobbying restrictions tied to the list.
A new law that took effect last week bars the Defense Department from working with any company represented by lobbyists who also work for entities on the 1260H list. All of Alibaba's more than two dozen registered lobbyists withdrew their registrations in recent weeks, Fortune reported.
” In a joint stipulation filed on Friday, Pentagon officials said they maintain the restriction fully complies with the US Constitution but recognize that entering into a stipulation for a limited period of time will benefit both the parties and the court.
The Pentagon declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation. US House China select committee chief John Moolenaar and House intelligence committee member Elise Stefanik wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month urging strict implementation of the new restriction.
