Firm That Vetted Snowden Hires More Lobbyists

By Kent Cooper

Posted November 29, 2013 at 2:44pm

The investigative firm that vetted Edward Snowden, and is also defending itself from a government lawsuit, has hired another Washington lobbying firm.

The Podesta Group registered this week to lobby for U.S. Investigative Services LLC, a company that provides background investigative services. The Podesta Group will lobby on “oversight and legislation related to government security clearance processes.” Tony Podesta, David Marin and Josh Holly are the lobbyists. Marin had been the Staff Director of the House Oversight Committee and worked for Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va. Holly used to work on the House Armed Services Committee. The effective date of the registration was 10/11.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP

U.S. Investigative Services (USIS) had a contract since 1996 to do background checks and field interviews for persons wanting to work for the federal government. At the end of October 2013, the Justice Department joined a whistleblower law suit that alleges USIS ‘dumped’ background checks to the government without performing the necessary quality reviews.

Although the lawsuit is not specifically about the USIS vetting of Snowden, nor is it about the USIS vetting of Aaron Alexis, who killed a dozen people at the Washington Navy Yard this fall, the two recent examples intensify the on-going focus on the USIS company.

Lobbyists were most likely helpful in preparing for a Congressional hearing on October 31st, when the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a hearing on the security clearance process for contract workers and federal employees.