Fred Thompson, who is fashioning himself as the folksy, outside-the-beltway candidate for president, is coming under increasing scrutiny for his family’s lobbying activities.
Before being elected to the Senate, Thompson was a lawyer-lobbyist whose clients included the deposed government of Haiti, the Teamsters Union pension fund and Westinghouse. He resumed his dual careers as lobbyist and TV actor after leaving the Senate in 2003.
Thompson’s lobbying disclosure reports, filed with Congress, show that he received $360,000 in fees between 2004 and 2006. His client was Equitas Ltd., a British reinsurance company that handles asbestos liability for Lloyd’s of London.
The New York Times today points out that Thompson’s sons, with few credentials other than family ties, are also registered lobbyists. Fred Thompson Jr., known as Tony, partnered with former U.S. Sen. Harlan Mathews in a Nashville lobbying business that represented Lockheed Martin. As a senator, Thompson Sr. received campaign contributions from Lockheed Martin; he also hired the company’s former lobbyist, Powell A. Moore, as his chief of staff.
Another son, Daniel, lobbied at the state level and was executive director the Tennessee Business Roundtable.
Past as lobbyist may play into future as candidate - USA Today
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