Law enforcement officials said Saturday, for instance, that they were investigating his role in securing lobbying contracts for his daughter's international public relations firm.

Ms. Rubin said, "Public officials can't direct or solicit a lobbying contract."

Matthews was attacked for support from Bob Asher and a lobbying contract awarded to party chairman Ken Davis.

Abramoff's lobbying contract with the CNMI was suspended in late 1998 due to a January change in administration and financial problems.

The initial six-month lobbying contract paid the firm a retainer of $165,000, plus expenses.

Prosecutors say that once grand jury subpoenas were issued for the records of the lobbying contracts, Mr. Smith tried to return the money.

Also on that same day, Georgia signed a new, $200,000 lobbying contract with Scheunemann's firm, Orion Strategies.

According to the Hill, "[t]his is the first lobbying contract Blackwater has had since early 2009, when it terminated contracts with several different firms."

But they had registered the lobbying contract with the state, as required by law, which could give the lobbying commission jurisdiction.

The appointment impressed Mr. Deaver's clients and cemented his most profitable lobbying contract.