Lobbyist found guilty of jamming get-out-the-vote phone lines

Introduction

James Tobin, a Republican lobbyist from Maine, was found guilty of conspiring to jam New Hampshire Democrats’ get-out-the-vote phone lines three years ago, reports the Bangor Daily News. According to the newspaper, Tobin faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Tobin’s conviction follows that of Charles “Chuck” McGee of Manchester, N.H., the former executive director of the New Hampshire Republican Party, and Allen Raymond, a political consultant who headed the now-defunct company GOP Marketplace. McGee, according to the newspaper, “came up with the phone jamming idea [and] served seven months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to jam phone lines.” Raymond is scheduled to begin serving a five-month sentence on December 30.

Tobin served as a lobbyist for the DCI Group, a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm that was founded by individuals with close ties to Republicans in the Bush administration, Congress, and allied conservative organizations.