The Committee to Destroy ISIS, a group headed by a former Senate GOP aide who hopes to break up Iraq, has filed its first federal lobbying disclosure.
The organization is advocating for "policies to counter the so-called Islamic State, including proposals for U.S. recognition of a new, independent state in western Iraq where ISIS currently controls territory."
Sam Patten, who has his own lobbying firm, is executive director of the organization. In 2014, he separately registered as a foreign agent on behalf of the Sunni-led Al Aribiya Bloc, an Iraqi political coalition formed by then-deputy prime minister of Iraq Saleh al-Mutlaq.
Patten previously served as speechwriter to former Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), as a professional staff member on the Senate Homeland Security Committee and as a legislative assistant to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
From 2008 to 2009, he worked at the State Department as a a senior adviser and speechwriter to the under secretary for democracy and global affairs. He has worked for numerous Republican election campaigns, including as a campaign coordinator for President George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.
