Robert Lenhard, the Democratic nominee who recently dropped his bid to rejoin the Federal Election Commission, has been hired by Covington & Burling, the law firm announced today.

Lenhard’s request that the White House dump his nomination was publicized today in a letter Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sent Monday to Josh Bolten, President Bush’s chief of staff. The White House and Senate leaders continue to spar over FEC nominations, particularly that of former Justice Department lawyer Hans von Spakovsky, a Republican nominee.

Lenhard, who sat on the elections panel from January 2006 to December 2007, will join the firm’s election and political law practice. The former commissioner, a graduate of UCLA School of Law, also was a former lawyer at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

— Matthew Murray