Top Lobbyists Drawn in Abramoff Probe

November 21, 2008— -- He's been named one of the "50 Politicos to Watch" and frequently appears on Fox News and MSNBC. But Republican lobbyist Todd Boulanger and his former colleague James Hirni have come under increasing federal scrutiny in the Justice Department's wide-ranging influence peddling probe stemming from Jack Abramoff, according to recently filed court documents and interviews.

The two former Abramoff associates appeared to have emerged unscathed from the lobbying scandal: Boulanger is a lobbyist with the Washington powerhouse Cassidy & Associates, and Hirni recently joined Wal-Mart's government relations office.

But history appears to be catching up to them. Now their work for United Rentals, a major construction company, may draw them into the more than four-year-old federal investigation.

Their connection to the probe shows that even after the Republicans have fallen from power, the investigation into the party's abuses continues and is expected to lead to new criminal indictments in the coming months, according to people familiar with the probe.

The scrutiny into Boulanger and Hirni was first disclosed in court documents filed Thursday as part of the plea agreement of Trevor Blackann, a former congressional staffer to Sen. Christopher Bond (R-Mo.) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). Blackann, who according to disclosure records most recently worked as a lobbyist for Dairy Farmers of America, pleaded guilty to making false statements on his 2003 tax return about $4,100 in gifts he received from individuals identified as Lobbyist D and E while they were lobbying him for clients.

The court documents do not name Lobbyist D and Lobbyist E. But public documents and interviews indicate that description in the court documents match Boulanger and Hirni, though neither has been charged with a crime.

Lobbyist D is identified in court documents as a former Senate staffer who began working for Abramoff in 1999 at Firm A, moved with him to Firm B until he left in 2004. The court document also states that he worked as a lobbyist for an "equipment rental company." Boulanger, a former staffer for Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH), worked for Abramoff from 1999 to 2004 at both Preston Gates and Greenberg Traurig. His lobbying disclosure records for 2003 and 2004 list United Rentals as a client.