Brian Slodysko, Jack Dura, AP communication
When the ND (AP), Bismarck -North Dakota Oil Association was trying to hold a banquet to honor the leading executives of the top fracking last year, it turned to Governor Dagbar Gum. Currently, President Donald Trump’s two -term Republican member, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs, co -sponsored the event at the governor’s mansion.
And when the energy industry lobbyist was asking for the help of undertaking the rules of the greenhouse gas for Biden and management, they turned to Burgam again. In the e -mail of Burgam’s office that seeks the legal weight that the state can provide, the industry lobbyist “one -on -two punches” from the industry and the government by “fighting” such regulations. I claimed that it was necessary.
It’s not surprising that the third largest petroleum production governor has a close relationship with fossil fuel producers, but the record of the AP communication is that even if the governor has benefited from the family lease. A petroleum company from the land that revealed that the Burgum administration had eagerly supported the industry. And his assistance came when Bulgum was very close to their connection to build his national profile in the Republican Party.
When it is confirmed that the Ministry of Home Affairs is operated -on Thursday, Bulgum has a huge amount of federal land, including the issuance of petroleum and gas leasing, and the United States produces records. It will dominate the delegation from Trump to extract such resources.
These relationships are related to the Democratic Party and environmental protectionists who say that his enthusiasm for expanding excavation is “troublesome.”
“Are you going to protect our resources, or are you going to” drill, baby, drill “? Senator Mazy Filono, a Democratic member of Hawaii, asked this month at a check hearing in Bulgum.
Bulgum’s choice, which temporarily pursued President’s position in 2023 before supporting Trump, indicates a sudden pivot that focuses on the struggle with the climate change. In addition, Trump has indicated that in exchange for the dismantling of Biden’s environmental agenda, he intends to follow the proposal made when he urges him to donate $ 1 billion to his campaign to petroleum and gas. I am.
The White House did not respond to the request for comments, so Bulgham’s spokesman refused to use him for interviews.
“Governor Burgam has made an effort to build a prosperous economy in North Dakota,” said the spokesman Rob Rockwood. “This economic growth contained a sustainable development of natural resources. As a governor, he met with the creators and leaders who created opportunities for the North Dakota people.”
In the face of a federal ethics rule that manages conflicts of conflicts of conflicts in Washington’s Paltisan, Bulgum is an interest in family leasing with shale oil’s giant land resources, and Chevron’s subsidiary, Hess, Hess. I pledged to sell something else. He also promised to sell shares held by a small number of energy companies. Part of it exchanged as the governor.
Close relationship with Titan in the industry
Rather than the friendship with Haroldham, the founder of the continental resources who is in charge of many of the North Dakota flacking boom, there is probably no better demo of Bulgham between oil and gas producers. 。 The billionaire Oklaho Mawild Catterh has advised Trump about energy policy and is widely regarded that Bulgum has played a role in securing nomination to lead the interior.
Hamm did not respond to the comments made through his company.
In the state -of -the -art speech of 2023, Bulgum compared Ham to Teddy Roosevelt, and called for “grit, recovery, hard work, determination”, which said, “I changed North Dakota and our country.” 。 The scream is Bulgum’s passion project after Ham donated $ 50 million to a library that praised Roosevelt in the western North Dakota.
The document obtained by the AP is that Ham gave a set of cuff links a few months later, and “friendship” to Bulgum, and the president would take a break from a “tough job”. I am grateful that I am grateful. A meeting that Ham hosted at Oklahoma City.
These were not his only supporters. Burgum, a CEO of an independent former software company, has less likely to win the Republican Presidential Presidential Election, but HAMM’s continental resources are 250,000 in Super PAC to support Burgum in the summer of 2023. I donated the dollar. He also contributed to Burgam’s governor campaign.
E -mails are frequently communicated between Burgum and Hamm offices.
In an e -mail in May 2020, Ham’s executive assistant asked if Burgam had time to talk to Ham, shared briefing documents against wind power, and said “Our special our special turbine. Direct tax deductions for the wind while blasting the “location and sacred land”. An energy provider as “ruthless”.
“This does nothing to make the United States great again!”
Burgam scored a goal to make a North Dakota Carbon Nu story by 2021 in 2021, but he adopted a ham tone. At the Senate this month, he has Miss Miss, such as wind power and other renewable energy, and suggests that such sources are unreliable when compared to fossil fuels.
In early 2023, Ham was ready to publish a memoir, and the Robyist on the continent sent an email to ask if Burgam could write a book praise. 。 Burgam was happy to complain and praised the Governor’s memoir, which was called a “impressive story worthy of sharing.” Burgam added the effects of ham as “immeasurable.”
Ethics experts say that their relationships have other aspects that bring more conflicts of interest. As a governor, Bulgham never revealed that his family had leased about 200 acres of agricultural land to the continent to excavate a well, as previously reported by CNBC. When Burgum was a president and faced a greater transparency requirement, he revealed in 2023 that Continental had earned $ 50,000 royalties.
Despite this relationship, Burgam has acted on a daily basis to make a profit to Ham’s company. As the chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Committee, which regulates the petroleum and gas industry, he has stated that he has voted for almost tens of times on measures that have given the continental consequences.
“North Dakota is a major energy production state,” said Burgum spokeswoman. “Tens of thousands of families and mineral owners have a similar arrangement. As the disclosure of the published shows, the quoted agreement started many years ago before he became the governor. “
Burgum also used the governor’s office to support proposed pipelines with $ 250 million financial support from HAMM. When completed, the global hot water CO2 gas, which is a by -product of ethanol fuel production, is transported to North Dakota, where it is stored deep in the basement. Although it is advertised as a method of imaging the atmosphere, it was also strictly resistant to land owners who fear that their property will be seized to complete the project.
Sarah Fogel, a former Democratic member who was sitting in the committee and a former North Dakota agricultural committee member, said Bulgum looks more like a cheerleader in the industry than a regulatory authority.
“I don’t think he had a regulatory authority. He was probably loved by the oil and gas industry because he had the promoter thinking,” Fogel said.
Other executives have a connection with Burgam
Ham is not the only petroleum executive or lobbyist who has cultivated the relationship with Burgam, e -mail, or office schedule show. Ryan Berger, the lobbyist of Occidental Petroleum, sent an e -mail to Burgum staff in search of the Occideal CEO Vicki Hollub meeting after Burgum moderated the panel of the Petroleum Society.
“In the ideal world, lunch and dinner will be great,” Burger wrote in an email in May 2024. He recently discussed the issue of energy “President Trump and direct”, and “I thought it would benefit from listening to her voices” and a policy shared with each other that could be amplified this year. When there is a viewpoint. “
Burger refused to comment on email. Spokesman Lockwood refused to say that Burgum had a meeting with Hollub.
The record revealed that the petroleum executive was informed who was scheduled on Burgam. Included: CEO of Chevron and Exon. The marathon oil officials had a audience in Burgam in 2022. The governor also spoke before the dinner of the Hess Board of Directors. According to his financial disclosure, Burgam’s family also has an oil wreath with Hess.
Bulgum has shown that he has refused an invitation to speak to the American Petroleum Laboratory in Washington, but he agrees to give a lecture in 2023 at the US exploration and a private dinner at the Production Council. did. others.
When Bulgum was a major candidate to pick up the Vice President of Trump last year, he co -sponsored a banquet at the North Dakota Petroleum Council and the Governor’s mansion, attracting industry heavy batters, lobby activists. I did. Currently, Ham and Chrislight, the CEO of Liberty Energy, who are selected by Trump for the energy secretary, talked to the attendees when they had a meal with beef, wall eye cake, and bourbon caramel top coblers.
On the day of the inauguration ceremony, Bulgum refused to invite a party to a party at the Posh Hay Adams Hotel, hosted by ham, many oils and oil companies.
The existence of Burgam may not have been overlooked. Many executives and lobbyists who can do business before the Ministry of Home Affairs can reach him.
Slodysko reported from Washington.
Initially issued: January 30, 2025 2:19 pm
