Egypt Hired Top Washington Lobbyists for U.S. Access

Three of Washington’s top lobbyists have helped Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s government get access to lawmakers to protect his nation’s status as a U.S. ally and major recipient of foreign aid, federal records show.

Government-relations firms led by two former congressmen, Republican Bob Livingston and Democrat Toby Moffett, formed a joint venture in 2007 with lobbyist Tony Podesta to represent Egypt in Washington, according to records filed with the U.S. Justice Department’s foreign-agent registration office.