Politics

Former Arkansas Senator Is Newest Pokémon GO Lobbyist

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Former Arkansan Republican Sen. Tim Hutchinson is now a registered lobbyist for the company behind the popular new Pokémon GO app on Capitol Hill.

Hutchinson is one of three registered lobbyists for the D.C.-based legal consulting firm Greenberg Traurig — the others are former Senate chiefs of staff — pushing Pokémon Company International’s business interests, according to a disclosure form obtained by congressional subscription service Legistorm.

Hutchinson’s role includes “congressional outreach and monitoring of administrative and legislative action related to technology and intellectual property,” the disclosure form said.

Hutchinson — a Greenberg Traurig senior director — served in the U.S. Senate from 1997 to 2002, and in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996. His brother, Asa, is governor of Arkansas.

Rob Mangas, once chief of staff to former Kentucky Republican Sen. Wendell Ford, and Diane Blagman, ex-chief of staff to former Michigan Democratic Sen. Bob Carr, are also lobbying for Pokémon Co. International as Greenberg Traurig consultants.

Their lobbyist registration, effective July 15, is the first federal lobbyist filing from Pokémon Co. International. Pokémon Co. International is a U.S. subsidiary of Japan-based Pokémon Co.

(RELATED: House Democrats Want To Protect You From Pokémon GO)

The app prompted criticism after it set up pokestops — locations for gathering free game tools — at sensitive sites like the Pentagon and the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.

The app reached 100 million downloads last week.

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