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March 2, 2011

Dems Urge Probe of Firms Linked to Chamber of Commerce 
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House Democrats are urging the investigation of a Washington law firm
and three private security companies hired to undermine political
opponents of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In a letter to four House
committees, Democratic lawmakers accused lobbying firm Hunton & Williams
of using subversive tactics to smear the Chamber's critics. Leaked
emails indicate Hunton & Williams solicited private security firms
Palantir Technologies, HBGary Federal and Berico Technologies to propose
a strategy for weakening progressive and labor groups that have
challenged the Chamber's lobbying for some of the nation's biggest
corporations. HBGary Federal chief executive Aaron Barr, whose emails
helped fuel the controversy, announced his resignation this week.



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