Ex-NFL lobbyist works on Internet gaming rules

Wednesday, November 12, 2008  

A former lobbyist for the National Football League is now working at the White House on last-minute regulations to limit Internet gaming.

William Wichterman and his associates at the Covington & Burling firm were paid $2.8 million by the NFL to lobby for limits on Internet gaming. A month after his work ended, he joined the White House as special assistant to the president and deputy director of public liaison.

The White House said Wichterman's efforts were cleared by ethics officers. But Democrats who are questioning the last-minute regulations say there is a conflict of interest.

President Bush signed the Internet gaming ban in October 16 as part of a larger counter-terrorism package that never received full debate in Congress.

Get the Story:
Role of Ex-NFL Lobbyist in Push to Curb Online Gambling Faulted (The Washington Post 11/12)
Bush administration finalizing Internet gambling regulations (AP 11/11)