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Caught Our Eye

Lawyer convicted of grand theft turns to lobbying

Posted by Sean Myers on Feb. 22, 2016

A former congressional aide with a criminal background is now lobbying for his former boss.

Morris Thomas was convicted of felony grand theft in 1992. A lawyer at the time, he stole money he had recovered for his clients. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and resigned his California bar license.

Despite Thomas' criminal history, former Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) hired him four years ago as his director for California's 25th District. During the 2012 election, McKeon's opponent challenged him about Thomas' background, but McKeon stood by his staffer and won the seat. "As a man of faith, I am a believer in forgiveness and giving people a second chance," McKeon said at the time.

McKeon did not seek re-election in 2014 and instead opened his own lobbying firm, McKeon Group LLC. Thomas then joined him as regional director but only recently became a registered federal lobbyist for McKeon, representing Antelope Valley Transit Authority on transportation issues.