Rhode Island Ex-Attorney General in Hot Water Over Gambling Lobbying

A former Rhode Island Attorney General is being investigated to determine if he violated state lobbying rules by making appeals to his former colleagues on behalf of a Nevada gambling casino.  Patrick C. Lynch, a Democrat, served from 2003 to 2010.

Since Mr. Lynch left office, he has developed an extensive lobbying practice representing clients like payday lenders, the video game software industry, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Comcast and Monsanto, the New York Times reports.

Those being paid by a private party “with the intent of influencing policy-making decisions involving the executive branch of the government” must be registered, according to Rhode Island state law.  

From the Times:

Mr. Lynch, the emails show, does not appear to be handling legal matters or investigations of his corporate clients. Instead, he routinely urges the attorneys general he contacts to take public positions that will benefit his clients, or not do so if that is to their advantage.

- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com