Todd Boulanger
Encyclopedia
Todd Boulanger is an American lobbyist. He was senior vice president of Cassidy & Associates
and was a figure in the Jack Abramoff scandal
.
to work for Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds, and then in 2001 to Greenberg Traurig as a member of "Team Abramoff
", and finally in 2004 to Cassidy & Associates.
In 2000 Boulanger served on the Bush recount team for Broward and Duval counties during the Florida election recount
. His Greenberg Traurig online profile heralded his involvement; fellow Team Abramoff members Shawn Vasell
, Tony Rudy
, and Duane Gibson also participated.
Boulanger was also a legislative aide to Senator Bob Smith
.
(R-Tex.), House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and Majority Whip Roy Blunt
(R-Mo.).
Billing records and emails indicate Boulanger had 31 instances of lobbying contacts with the White House while at Greenberg. On February 21, 2002, for example, Susan Ralston e-mailed Boulanger in reference to briefing materials opposing the construction of a casino in Louisiana by the Jena Band of the Choctaw: “Thanks for breakfast. I
showed KR
the binder . . . . He gave the binder to Mehlman
to read cover to cover and to be prepared. Mehlman will be at the meeting.”
Emails also show that Boulanger was involved with Abramoff, Kevin Ring
, Shawn Vasell
and Tony Rudy
in the Team Abramoff efforts to secure $16.3 million in funding from the Department of Justice for the construction of a jail by the Mississippi Band of the Choctaw. Documents released with Boulanger's guilty plea include emails by Boulanger, Abramoff, and Ring discussing giving "Staffer E" -- identified by the Associated Press as Sen. Thad Cochran
aide Ann Copland -- tickets for ice skating and Paul McCartney
and Green Day
concerts. The lobbyists believed Copland could assist their client, the Mississippi Choctaw.
Boulanger was identified as "Lobbyist D" in the plea agreement of Trevor Blackann
, a former staffer for Rep. Roy Blunt
(R-Mo.) and Sen. Kit Bond
(R-Mo.) who pleaded guilty on November 20, 2008 to making false statements about thousands of dollars in gifts from Boulanger and fellow lobbyist James Hirni
. Boulanger resigned from Cassidy & Associates the following day.
On January 28, 2009 Boulanger was formally charged in the scandal. Boulanger pleaded guilty to bribing government officials the next day.
Following the initial wave of the Abramoff scandal, Boulanger became a regular on Fox News and MSNBC, and was named by Politico as one of the "50 Politicos To Watch" for his "nattily attired, outside-the-box staying power."
, Roy Blunt
and Progress for America
.
Cassidy & Associates
Cassidy & Associates is a government-relations firm based in Washington, D.C., known for pioneering the use of congressional earmarks as a method of obtaining grants for university clients. It was founded in 1975 as Schlossberg-Cassidy Associates by Gerald Cassidy and Kenneth Schlossberg, both...
and was a figure in the Jack Abramoff scandal
Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
The Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal is a United States political scandal relating to the work performed by political lobbyists Jack Abramoff, Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Grover Norquist and Michael Scanlon on Indian casino gambling interests for an estimated $85 million in fees. Abramoff and Scanlon...
.
Background
Boulanger graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in political science, and served in the U.S. Army Reserves for eight years.Early career
In 1999 Boulanger followed Jack AbramoffJack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff is an American former lobbyist and businessman. Convicted in 2006 of mail fraud and conspiracy, he was at the heart of an extensive corruption investigation that led to the conviction of White House officials J. Steven Griles and David Safavian, U.S. Representative Bob Ney, and nine...
to work for Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds, and then in 2001 to Greenberg Traurig as a member of "Team Abramoff
Team Abramoff
"Team Abramoff" is the team of lobbyists assembled by Jack Abramoff when he worked at Greenberg Traurig, primarily of former aides to prominent Congressional politicians...
", and finally in 2004 to Cassidy & Associates.
In 2000 Boulanger served on the Bush recount team for Broward and Duval counties during the Florida election recount
Florida election recount
The Florida election recount of 2000 was a period of vote re-counting that occurred following the unclear results of the 2000 United States presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, specifically the Florida results. The election was ultimately settled in favor of George W. Bush when...
. His Greenberg Traurig online profile heralded his involvement; fellow Team Abramoff members Shawn Vasell
Shawn Vasell
Shawn M. Vasell is a former congressional staffer and lobbyist who served as a senior aide to Senator Conrad Burns, and as aides to then-congressman Porter Goss and judiciary subcommittee chair Senator Spencer Abraham, and, as a lobbyist, was part of Team Abramoff...
, Tony Rudy
Tony Rudy
Tony Charles Rudy , an American lobbyist and an associate of Jack Abramoff. After serving as a staffer in the office of U. S. Representative Tom DeLay from approximately 1995 to 2001, and rising to deputy chief of staff, Rudy joined "Team Abramoff" at Greenberg Traurig. Rudy was implicated in the...
, and Duane Gibson also participated.
Boulanger was also a legislative aide to Senator Bob Smith
Robert C. Smith
Robert C. "Bob" Smith is an American politician who has served in both the United States House of Representatives and the Senate. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life:Smith was born in Trenton, New Jersey...
.
Abramoff scandal
While working for Abramoff in 2002, Todd Boulanger drafted a letter to Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton on behalf of the Louisiana Coushatta against the Jena Band of Choctaws from Louisiana, who were hoping to build a casino near the Coushatta's own. His original draft said to Norton: "we hold you accountable" to shoot down "reservation shopping" by the Jenas. In June, Norton received a toned-down letter, signed by House Majority Leader Tom DeLayTom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
(R-Tex.), House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and Majority Whip Roy Blunt
Roy Blunt
Roy D. Blunt is the junior United States Senator from Missouri. He is a member of the Republican Party. His Senate seat was previously held by Republican Kit Bond, until his retirement....
(R-Mo.).
Billing records and emails indicate Boulanger had 31 instances of lobbying contacts with the White House while at Greenberg. On February 21, 2002, for example, Susan Ralston e-mailed Boulanger in reference to briefing materials opposing the construction of a casino in Louisiana by the Jena Band of the Choctaw: “Thanks for breakfast. I
showed KR
Karl Rove
Karl Christian Rove was Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to former President George W. Bush until Rove's resignation on August 31, 2007. He has headed the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives...
the binder . . . . He gave the binder to Mehlman
Ken Mehlman
Kenneth Brian Mehlman is an American businessman, attorney, and political figure who served as the campaign manager for the 2004 re-election campaign of George W. Bush and Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2005 to 2007. In 2007, President Bush appointed Mehlman to the U.S...
to read cover to cover and to be prepared. Mehlman will be at the meeting.”
Emails also show that Boulanger was involved with Abramoff, Kevin Ring
Kevin A. Ring
Kevin A. Ring is a former lobbyist and Republican Congressional staffer. He was a figure in the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal scandal. After leaving Team Abramoff at Greenberg Traurig in 2005, he joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP law firm in Washington, DC...
, Shawn Vasell
Shawn Vasell
Shawn M. Vasell is a former congressional staffer and lobbyist who served as a senior aide to Senator Conrad Burns, and as aides to then-congressman Porter Goss and judiciary subcommittee chair Senator Spencer Abraham, and, as a lobbyist, was part of Team Abramoff...
and Tony Rudy
Tony Rudy
Tony Charles Rudy , an American lobbyist and an associate of Jack Abramoff. After serving as a staffer in the office of U. S. Representative Tom DeLay from approximately 1995 to 2001, and rising to deputy chief of staff, Rudy joined "Team Abramoff" at Greenberg Traurig. Rudy was implicated in the...
in the Team Abramoff efforts to secure $16.3 million in funding from the Department of Justice for the construction of a jail by the Mississippi Band of the Choctaw. Documents released with Boulanger's guilty plea include emails by Boulanger, Abramoff, and Ring discussing giving "Staffer E" -- identified by the Associated Press as Sen. Thad Cochran
Thad Cochran
William Thad Cochran is the senior United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the Senate in 1978, he is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and was its chairman and 2005 to 2007.-Early life:He was born in Pontotoc,...
aide Ann Copland -- tickets for ice skating and Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
and Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
concerts. The lobbyists believed Copland could assist their client, the Mississippi Choctaw.
Boulanger was identified as "Lobbyist D" in the plea agreement of Trevor Blackann
Trevor Blackann
Trevor Blackann is a former American lobbyist who pleaded guilty in the Jack Abramoff scandal.Blackann began his political career as a staffer for Roy Blunt, and subsequently Kit Bond....
, a former staffer for Rep. Roy Blunt
Roy Blunt
Roy D. Blunt is the junior United States Senator from Missouri. He is a member of the Republican Party. His Senate seat was previously held by Republican Kit Bond, until his retirement....
(R-Mo.) and Sen. Kit Bond
Kit Bond
Christopher Samuel "Kit" Bond is a former United States Senator from Missouri and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, he defeated Democrat Harriett Woods by a margin of 53%-47%. He was re-elected in 1992, 1998, and 2004...
(R-Mo.) who pleaded guilty on November 20, 2008 to making false statements about thousands of dollars in gifts from Boulanger and fellow lobbyist James Hirni
James Hirni
James F. Hirni is a lobbyist who was convicted for bribing Senate Staff aides in return for favorable amendments to federal legislation. A former aide to Sen. Tim Hutchinson , he joined the lobbying firm Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, and then became a member of "Team Abramoff" at Greenberg Traurig...
. Boulanger resigned from Cassidy & Associates the following day.
On January 28, 2009 Boulanger was formally charged in the scandal. Boulanger pleaded guilty to bribing government officials the next day.
Following the initial wave of the Abramoff scandal, Boulanger became a regular on Fox News and MSNBC, and was named by Politico as one of the "50 Politicos To Watch" for his "nattily attired, outside-the-box staying power."
Personal
Boulanger is married to Jessica Incitto, a Republican spokesperson who has worked for Tom DeLayTom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
, Roy Blunt
Roy Blunt
Roy D. Blunt is the junior United States Senator from Missouri. He is a member of the Republican Party. His Senate seat was previously held by Republican Kit Bond, until his retirement....
and Progress for America
Progress For America
Progress for America and its affiliate Progress for America Voter Fund are national tax-exempt organizations in the United States. PFA was established in 2001 to support George W. Bush's "agenda for America"...
.