K&L Gates Touted Ties to Lawmaker Whose Earmarks Are Now Under Scrutiny
K&L Gates touted its relationship with U.S. Rep. Peter Visclosky, an Indiana Democrat whose earmarks are now under investigation.
A Washington Post story notes the boast of “a very good relationship” in a lobbyist’s letter to a potential client. One pricing option offered: a monthly retainer of $6,500 in addition to a success fee amounting to 7.5 percent of any earmark obtained.
The story concludes that “K&L Gates used its relationship with Visclosky as a marketing tool”—and the ties were evidently effective.
“The congressman sponsored or supported at least $44 million in earmarks in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 for more than 15 technology firms that had hired K&L Gates as lobbyists,” the story says. “None of the companies operated in Visclosky’s home state, but nearly all of them donated to Visclosky’s campaign just before or soon after receiving the promise of federal money.”
Since 2005, K&L Gates clients who won support from Visclosky, along with their lobbyists and investors, donated almost $200,000 to Visclosky and an additional $130,000 to the House Democratic campaign committee, the story says.
The Am Law Daily noted the story.
K&L Gates told the Post its actions have been aboveboard. “We have always been clear that campaign contributions cannot be a condition for any appropriation or official action,” the statement said.
K&L Gates spokesman Michael Rick told the Am Law Daily: “Our clients have interesting, real, cutting-edge technologies, and we help them to find federal research funding through contracts, loans, and appropriations, with a clear view to both ethical and legal requirements. [The Post] article does not state that we have done otherwise … and we don’t control the timing of either markups or fundraisers.”
