Apple Hires Former Senate Staffer as New Lobbyist in Washington - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Hires Former Senate Staffer as New Lobbyist in Washington

Amber CottleApple has hired veteran Washington insider Amber Cottle as its new top lobbyist according to a report from Politico.

Cottle was previously the Democratic Staff Director for the Senate Finance Committee, where she also had experience as the committee's Chief International Trade Counsel, important experience for Apple's needs on Capitol Hill.

In her job on the Finance Committee, Cottle advised members and staff on trade and international economic issues, and was previously Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Investment.

Apple has been increasingly active in Washington DC in recent years, with Apple executives meeting with President Obama over NSA surveillance and appearing in front of a Senate committee to discuss Apple's tax strategies. The company has repeatedly asked Congress for a discount on taxes for repatriating cash earned overseas to the United States.

The company began looking for a new VP of Worldwide Government Affairs when Catherine Ann Novelli, who held the position since 2007, left for a job at the U.S. State Department.

According to Politico, Apple spent $3.3 million on lobbying in 2013, roughly double the previous year.

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple's Next Era Begins September 1

Thursday May 7, 2026 10:36 am PDT by
Apple recently announced that Tim Cook will be stepping down as CEO later this year, after 15 years of leading the company. Effective September 1, Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus will become the company's next CEO, while Cook will become executive chairman of Apple's board of directors. In his new role, Apple said Cook will assist with "certain aspects" of the company,...
Instagram Feature 2

PSA: Instagram Encrypted Messaging Ends on Friday, May 8

Tuesday May 5, 2026 8:24 am PDT by
Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption for direct messages between users from May 8, 2026. When the date comes around, Meta will potentially be able to see the contents of all messages between users on the social media platform. Encrypting messages has been an optional feature in Instagram since 2023, but in March of this year the social media platform quietly updated a help page to say ...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Just Released a New Accessory

Monday May 4, 2026 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today released a new Pride Edition Sport Loop for the Apple Watch. The band features a rainbow design with 11 colors of woven nylon yarns. The new Pride Edition Sport Loop is available to order now on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 40mm, 42mm, and 46mm sizes, and it will be available at Apple Store locations starting later this week. In the U.S., the band costs $49. There...

Top Rated Comments

AngerDanger Avatar
158 months ago
She looks very angry at the fact's that she's in this article:

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
158 months ago
Just another corporation buying another lobbyist to buy another politician.... Nothing else to see here... move along please.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dulcimer Avatar
158 months ago
Tim cook hired a Democrat? That's some real news.

Here we go… :rolleyes:
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArtOfWarfare Avatar
158 months ago
Am I the only one who feels the world would be a better place if we just went scorched earth on DC? So many leaches on society would just go up in smoke.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Santabean2000 Avatar
158 months ago
Should have hired:
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
158 months ago
How come this isn't in with the political threads?

It's not even a story, really. At least it's not another thread about bird games. Hey ARN, macbirdrumors.com is still available!

Tim cook hired a Democrat? That's some real news.

While I enjoy your stereotype and roll my eyes at you...It's actually a smart move to hire a well networked Dem. She's well connected with the few Dems left who actually care about jobs, regulations and tax revenue on-shore. Who better to try to convince them Apple's way isn't quite like those other corporations ways.

I'm not trying to make a political statement per se. I see it as a smart (maybe, possibly, backhanded move) ;)

----------

She looks very angry to be ing this article.

I know! When women are successful and smile in a picture...I get jealous too!

Come on...................
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)