The state?s ethics commission cleared Gov. Robert Ehrlich?s personal attorney of allegations he illegally acted as an unregistered lobbyist when he arranged meetings between his clients and the governor to discuss legislation.
The commission?s executive director, Suzanne Fox, confirmed the state-appointed group decided not to pursue a complaint against attorney David Hamilton, who founded the government relations practice at the Ober/Kaler law firm and represents Ehrlich. Hamilton waived his right to confidentiality so Fox could disclose the decision to local media, she said. Hamilton did not respond to several attempts to reach him Friday. He still faces an investigation by an independent government watchdog, Common Cause, said its director, Bobbi Walton.
Walton said she has arranged a meeting with members of the ethics commission to discuss laws that regulate lobbying to determine if a change is needed. Hamilton was accused of arranging meetings so his clients could influence legislation.
“If we think there is something we can do to strengthen the law to protect the public, we’ll find some friendly legislators to sponsor it,” Walton said.
In Baltimore County, Hamilton met with county employees to encourage support for a proposed liquid natural gas plant at the Sparrows Point shipyard and asked them to soften County Executive Jim Smith?s opposition to the plant, according to documents released by the county.
Hamilton met with the officials on behalf of his client, shipyard owner Vincent Barletta, who told The Examiner he “briefly” considered retaining William Pitcher as a lobbyist. Hamilton has told reporters he enlists Pitcher to handle his clients? lobbying needs. A group challenging the proposal, the LNG Opposition Team, asked Common Cause to launch an investigation.
