In Case You Missed It, new reporting reveals that corrupt politician Adam Laxalt has been making $995 per hour at his Washington, DC law firm, Cooper & Kirk. Laxalt has come under fire in recent weeks for making millions working for a longtime Washington lobbyist at the firm representing the Big Oil companies that are making record profits off high gas prices.
Laxalt has a long history of siding with Big Oil over the people of Nevada. As attorney general, he abused his office to benefit his Big Oil backers, fighting an investigation into their corrupt practices then being rewarded with millions in outside spending funded by out-of-state oil billionaires. After voters rejected his bid for Governor in 2018, Laxalt immediately cashed in, making nearly $3 million dollars at Cooper & Kirk. As his firm’s Big Oil clients rake in record-breaking profits, gas prices continue to rise and Laxalt continues to go out of his way to defend them on the campaign trail.
From the Orlando Sentinel:
Skyler Swisher
A conservative Washington, D.C., law firm with deep political connections has emerged as the courthouse defender of much of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ culture war agenda, raking in nearly $2.8 million in legal fees and contracts from taxpayers to defend some of his top priorities.
One of the firm’s star lawyers, Adam Laxalt, roomed with DeSantis during officer training school and is now running for U.S. Senate in Nevada with his endorsement.
[…]
Cooper & Kirk has been on the frontlines of prominent conservative battles over the years, such as the defense of a 2008 California voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. Its clients have included the Boca Raton-based private prison company The Geo Group and the National Rifle Association.
Cooper represented U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the 2018 Florida recount of his election victory.
Laxalt, a former Nevada attorney general, joined Cooper & Kirk as a partner in March 2019 after losing in the state’s governor election.
In November that year, DeSantis’ office signed a $250,000 deal with Cooper & Kirk in a court battle over felon voting rights. DeSantis and Florida Republicans took the position that felons must pay all fines and fees before they could vote.
Laxalt’s signature is on the engagement letter… Laxalt’s hourly rate is listed at $995, while attorney Michael Kirk listed his hourly rate at $1,245.
[…]
Laxalt lists a combined $3.8 million in “partnership distributions” from Cooper & Kirk as income in financial disclosure statements filed in December and May. On the latest form, he lists himself as a partner in the firm, but he described Cooper & Kirk as a former employer in another section.
DeSantis endorsed Laxalt in a campaign ad, saying he’s known him since they were in the U.S. Navy together. The two were roommates at the Naval Justice School about 17 years ago. DeSantis campaigned for Laxalt in April in Nevada.
That endorsement paid dividends in the Nevada Senate GOP primary, which Laxalt won on Tuesday.
During court testimony in October, Laxalt said he speaks to DeSantis with “regularity” and considers him to be a good friend.
[…]
###
