Robert Mercer and Steve Bannon wanted to use the services of SCL, but there were two issues. First of all, there were issues in the United States about using a foreign contractor, particularly a foreign military contractor, in domestic U.S. elections. This was in both a compliance sense—that's not allowed—and secondly an optics sense—that doesn't look good. They needed a domestic U.S.-focused brand for that operation.
Secondly, Rob Mercer wanted more control over the project than simply handing it to a client would allow. He wanted a role as an investor and as a shareholder and as a director.