Senate Aide Moonlights as Lobbyist, Sparking Ethics Questions

A longtime Senate aide for Sen. Mike Rounds has quietly lobbied for Meta and other clients, prompting ethics concerns about conflicts of interest since he also works inside the senator’s office; records show he’s also associated with 605 Strategies and lists Meta among his clients, while Rounds has introduced AI-related bills that could affect those industries. Senate ethics guidance says there’s no conflict, but experts argue that outside lobbying by a staffer is inappropriate, and Meta says its contract ended after the 2026 session.