Around 2001, Abramoff went in search of a lobbying client who was naive and had a lot of money to spend.

Advocacy groups noted that the top lobbying clients are also among the state's top political campaign contributors.

But it also raises the prospect that political clients are getting advice that first and foremost serves their consultant's lobbying clients.

She said that she believed she had a responsibility to be selective about her lobbying clients.

He then took on some lobbying clients, and was later asked to investigate a parole scandal in Tennessee.

One of his first lobbying clients was the Geo Group, which sells detention center bed space to his former agency.

Among the firm's lobbying clients are:

Mr. Jordan lists American Airlines as his only lobbying client.

Indeed, the indictment refers to the companies that provided the money as "unsuspecting lobbying clients."

He was not powerful enough or in government long enough to do much beyond petty reconnaissance for Mr. Abramoff and his lobbying clients.