How scheming lobbyist operated in Seattle firm

[Judi Lynn]

Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - Page updated at 12:00 AM
How scheming lobbyist operated in Seattle firm
By David Postman and Hal Bernton
Seattle Times staff reporters

Before joining Seattle-based Preston Gates & Ellis, Jack Abramoff had been involved with South Africa's apartheid regime, Col. Oliver North's campaign to arm Nicaraguan contras, Zaire's dictator Mobutu Sese Seko and Angolan rebel leader Jonas Savimbi, who reportedly had his opponents burned at the stake.

Not the sort of résumé one would expect to appeal to a Democratic-leaning law and lobbying firm with a largely establishment client list. The firm had once turned down a request to represent India in D.C., because of concern for the shaky state of democracy under Indira Gandhi.

But it was a different era when Abramoff showed up. He was a fiercely partisan Republican, and his hiring was announced Dec. 30, 1994 — just days before Newt Gingrich became speaker of the House and Republicans took control of Congress.

Abramoff would emerge as the firm's star in the capital, pulling in millions of dollars and catapulting Preston Gates into the big leagues of lobbying even as his freewheeling style, disdain for authority and penchant for secrecy strained relations with his bosses.
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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002789161_prestongates07m.html

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/01/06/wbABRAMOFF_narrowweb__300x354,0.jpg

[annabanana]

1. Interesting article..

That Seattle firm learned the hard way about lying down with dogs.