For Shame: Former Rep. Lobbies for Sudan-Friendly Company

by Michelle . · 2009-07-06 16:20:00 UTC
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Politics can be a playground for the shameless.

Take former Maryland representative Albert R. Wynn, Sarah Palin's comrade-in-arms in the quitting-mid-term department. (It appears that Mr. Wynn was a sore loser, resigning after losing the Democratic primary.)

Like many former-congressman, Wynn immediately jumped into the world of lobbying. As Paul West reveals on the Baltimore Sun's Maryland Politics blog, Wynn's clients include defense contractor Wartsila North America, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Finnish Wartsila OYJ:

"Wartsila, the company Wynn now represents, has been criticized for its business dealings in Sudan, where violence in the country's Darfur region has been condemned as genocide.

The Genocide Intervention Network...has said that business transactions by Wartsila OYG and other international companies have helped the Sudanese government. Wartsila OYJ has sold power plants for oil projects in Sudan.

Last week, after a two-year review of its investments with companies that failed to provide adequate responses about their dealings with Sudan and Iran, the New York State pension fund announced plans to divest more than $86 million in holdings from nine companies, including Wartsila OYJ."

I would say, "Shame on you, Mr. Wynn," but somehow I doubt he's familiar with the concept.

Michelle . has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns.
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