Tony Rudy
Encyclopedia
Tony Charles Rudy an American
lobbyist and an associate of Jack Abramoff
. After serving as a staffer in the office of U. S. Representative Tom DeLay
(R
-TX
) from approximately 1995 to 2001, and rising to deputy chief of staff, Rudy joined "Team Abramoff
" at Greenberg Traurig. Rudy was implicated in the Jack Abramoff guilty plea
as unindicted co-conspirator "Staffer A". In 2006, Rudy pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy and agreed to cooperate with investigators. Tom DeLay ("Representative #2") and Bob Ney
("Representative #1") are identified in the plea.
in the late 1980s, a conservative student leader with fellow student Brian Darling
, who also later became a prominent Congressional aide embroiled in controversy. Rudy worked on Capitol Hill for eight years, first for California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, who had a reputation as one of the most libertarian Republicans in Congress, before leaving to attend law school. Rudy then went on to work for more than five years in DeLay's office.
While working for Rohrabacher, Rudy met his future wife, Lisa, who was also employed as a staffer in Rohrabacher's office. The couple would marry in August 1995.
During his time working for DeLay, who was known as a conservative Republican, in contrast to the often libertarian
-leaning Rohrabacher, Rudy served as press secretary, policy director, and finally deputy chief of staff, while DeLay progressed within the Republican Congressional leadership from congressman to Majority Whip to Majority Leader. DeLay lauded Rudy in a Congressional floor speech on December 15, 2000, just before Rudy left to work with Abramoff at Greenberg Traurig
, a Washington, D.C.
lobbying
firm.
Rudy originally came to Washington, D.C. to work for conservative and libertarian groups. He quickly immersed himself in Republican party politics, before leaving Capitol Hill to attend law school at George Mason University
, in nearby Arlington, Virginia, between 1992 and 1995. At GMU, he served as head of the Federalist Society
. He would later win the 2nd Year Student Moot Court Championship, which was a type of law school debate competition between various two-member teams. After graduating from law school and passing the Virginia bar
, Rudy was hired by DeLay, after being recommended by Rohrabacher.
to hire Liberty Consulting," Susan Schmidt and James Grimaldi, reported in the November 26, 2005, Washington Post.
, told National Journal
, "There is a lot of discussion about how we can help Republican candidates and expand the majority". As for DeLay, Rudy added, 'As long as he wants me, I'll be there for him.' ..."
No list of top Washington lobbyists "is complete without Rudy, lobbyist extraordinaire."
[Traurig] in the wake of investigations surrounding Abramoff’s activities — were foot soldiers in the Florida recount
. Two of them bragged of their recount work on their official online Greenberg biographies, which have since been removed," John Byrne reported in the May 5, 2005, edition of Raw Story.
"Shawn Vasell
noted that he was a 'team leader' in Broward and Duval counties in his bio; Duane Gibson was photographed in the acclaimed Brooks Brothers riot
of Republican operatives outside the Miami-Dade County polling headquarters; Todd Boulanger
boasted of being on the Broward and Duval recount team in his profile. Rudy was also on the ground.
"Boulanger drafted a letter DeLay signed urging the Interior Department to favor Abramoff's client in June 2003 — a letter cosigned by the House Republican leadership, including Whip Roy Blunt
(R-MO
)," Byrne wrote.
On November 17, 2006, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked Rudy's license to practice law.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lobbyist and an associate of Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff is an American former lobbyist and businessman. Convicted in 2006 of mail fraud and conspiracy, he was at the heart of an extensive corruption investigation that led to the conviction of White House officials J. Steven Griles and David Safavian, U.S. Representative Bob Ney, and nine...
. After serving as a staffer in the office of U. S. Representative Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
(R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
-TX
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) from approximately 1995 to 2001, and rising to deputy chief of staff, Rudy joined "Team Abramoff
Team Abramoff
"Team Abramoff" is the team of lobbyists assembled by Jack Abramoff when he worked at Greenberg Traurig, primarily of former aides to prominent Congressional politicians...
" at Greenberg Traurig. Rudy was implicated in the Jack Abramoff guilty plea
Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
The Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal is a United States political scandal relating to the work performed by political lobbyists Jack Abramoff, Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Grover Norquist and Michael Scanlon on Indian casino gambling interests for an estimated $85 million in fees. Abramoff and Scanlon...
as unindicted co-conspirator "Staffer A". In 2006, Rudy pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy and agreed to cooperate with investigators. Tom DeLay ("Representative #2") and Bob Ney
Bob Ney
Robert William Ney is an American politician from the U.S. state of Ohio. A Republican, Ney represented Ohio's 18th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 until November 3, 2006, when he resigned...
("Representative #1") are identified in the plea.
| Pled guilty | Sentenced | Sentence | Started serving | Current location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2006 |
Background
Tony C. Rudy attended the University of Massachusetts AmherstUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
in the late 1980s, a conservative student leader with fellow student Brian Darling
Brian Darling
Brian Darling is a senior fellow in government studies at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank based in Washington, D.C. Darling has been involved in U.S. politics since the early 1990s, in roles as a congressional aide, lobbyist and legal counsel...
, who also later became a prominent Congressional aide embroiled in controversy. Rudy worked on Capitol Hill for eight years, first for California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, who had a reputation as one of the most libertarian Republicans in Congress, before leaving to attend law school. Rudy then went on to work for more than five years in DeLay's office.
While working for Rohrabacher, Rudy met his future wife, Lisa, who was also employed as a staffer in Rohrabacher's office. The couple would marry in August 1995.
During his time working for DeLay, who was known as a conservative Republican, in contrast to the often libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
-leaning Rohrabacher, Rudy served as press secretary, policy director, and finally deputy chief of staff, while DeLay progressed within the Republican Congressional leadership from congressman to Majority Whip to Majority Leader. DeLay lauded Rudy in a Congressional floor speech on December 15, 2000, just before Rudy left to work with Abramoff at Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig LLP and Greenberg Traurig PA is an international law firm based in Miami, Florida.The firm has approximately 1,800 attorneys and governmental professionals in 32 locations in the United States, Europe and Asia. Its founding office is in Miami, Florida with its largest office in...
, a Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
firm.
Rudy originally came to Washington, D.C. to work for conservative and libertarian groups. He quickly immersed himself in Republican party politics, before leaving Capitol Hill to attend law school at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
, in nearby Arlington, Virginia, between 1992 and 1995. At GMU, he served as head of the Federalist Society
Federalist Society
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, most frequently called simply the Federalist Society, is an organization of conservatives seeking reform of the current American legal system in accordance with a textualist and/or originalist interpretation of the U.S. Constitution...
. He would later win the 2nd Year Student Moot Court Championship, which was a type of law school debate competition between various two-member teams. After graduating from law school and passing the Virginia bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
, Rudy was hired by DeLay, after being recommended by Rohrabacher.
Influence peddling
Rudy's March 2006 guilty plea on a charge of conspiracy covered payments from Abramoff clients and associates to Liberty Consulting, a political firm founded by Rudy's wife, Lisa. In October 2005, the Washington Post reported that Rudy, while on DeLay's staff, helped scuttle a bill opposed by eLottery Inc., an Abramoff client, and that Abramoff had eLottery pay Toward TraditionToward Tradition
Toward Tradition is a politically conservative non-profit organization founded by Rabbi Daniel Lapin based in Mercer Island, Washington, United States...
to hire Liberty Consulting," Susan Schmidt and James Grimaldi, reported in the November 26, 2005, Washington Post.
Insider trading
While a DeLay staffer, Rudy traded hundreds of thousands of shares of stocks from his work computer in 1999 and 2000. From House disclosure forms it is impossible to determine whether Rudy profited or if he used insider knowledge. It is not illegal for Congressional staffers to trade upon insider legislative knowledge, although Louise Slaughter has introduced a bill banning the practice.DeLay loyalist
"[F]ormer Deputy Chief of Staff Tony Rudy, quoted while in his former employ with the Alexander Strategy GroupAlexander Strategy Group
Alexander Strategy Group was an American lobbying firm involved in the K Street Project, founded by Ed Buckham and his wife Wendy. Buckham is a former chief of staff of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and the firm openly promoted its access to DeLay. Its chief lobbyist was Paul Behrends.In...
, told National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
, "There is a lot of discussion about how we can help Republican candidates and expand the majority". As for DeLay, Rudy added, 'As long as he wants me, I'll be there for him.' ..."
No list of top Washington lobbyists "is complete without Rudy, lobbyist extraordinaire."
2000 Florida recount
"Four of Abramoff's colleagues — all of whom have left GreenbergGreenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig LLP and Greenberg Traurig PA is an international law firm based in Miami, Florida.The firm has approximately 1,800 attorneys and governmental professionals in 32 locations in the United States, Europe and Asia. Its founding office is in Miami, Florida with its largest office in...
[Traurig] in the wake of investigations surrounding Abramoff’s activities — were foot soldiers in the Florida recount
Florida election recount
The Florida election recount of 2000 was a period of vote re-counting that occurred following the unclear results of the 2000 United States presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, specifically the Florida results. The election was ultimately settled in favor of George W. Bush when...
. Two of them bragged of their recount work on their official online Greenberg biographies, which have since been removed," John Byrne reported in the May 5, 2005, edition of Raw Story.
"Shawn Vasell
Shawn Vasell
Shawn M. Vasell is a former congressional staffer and lobbyist who served as a senior aide to Senator Conrad Burns, and as aides to then-congressman Porter Goss and judiciary subcommittee chair Senator Spencer Abraham, and, as a lobbyist, was part of Team Abramoff...
noted that he was a 'team leader' in Broward and Duval counties in his bio; Duane Gibson was photographed in the acclaimed Brooks Brothers riot
Brooks Brothers riot
The Brooks Brothers riot is the term coined to describe the demonstration at a meeting of election canvassers in Miami-Dade County, Florida on November 19, 2000, during a recount of votes made during the 2000 United States presidential election...
of Republican operatives outside the Miami-Dade County polling headquarters; Todd Boulanger
Todd Boulanger
Todd Boulanger is an American lobbyist. He was senior vice president of Cassidy & Associates and was a figure in the Jack Abramoff scandal.-Background:...
boasted of being on the Broward and Duval recount team in his profile. Rudy was also on the ground.
"Boulanger drafted a letter DeLay signed urging the Interior Department to favor Abramoff's client in June 2003 — a letter cosigned by the House Republican leadership, including Whip Roy Blunt
Roy Blunt
Roy D. Blunt is the junior United States Senator from Missouri. He is a member of the Republican Party. His Senate seat was previously held by Republican Kit Bond, until his retirement....
(R-MO
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
)," Byrne wrote.
Suspension of Virginia law license
On August 4, 2006, the Virginia State Bar issued the following notice:- Tony Charles Rudy, --
- VSB Docket No. 07-000-0275
- Effective July 31, 2006, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board summarily suspended Tony Charles Rudy’s license to practice law in Virginia. The suspension arises from Mr. Rudy’s guilty plea to conspiracy to defraud the United States in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. The board ordered Mr. Rudy to appear before it on August 25, 2006, to determine whether revocation or further suspension of his license to practice law is appropriate.
On November 17, 2006, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked Rudy's license to practice law.
External links
- Copy of Plea Agreement, March 31, 2006.
- Complete list of Tony Rudy's campaign contributions, at newsmeat.com.
- "Political Contributions by DeLay Alumni During the 2003–2004 Election Cycle," Tech Politics (CQ Weekly, Federal Election CommissionFederal Election CommissionThe Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
, downloaded March 2005). - "A Force Behind the Power: Political Operator Tony Rudy Helped DeLay's Ascent," The Washington Post, April 1, 2006.
- "Four congressmembers role in Abramoff lobbying scandal probed," The Raw Story, November 25, 2005.