Former Rep. Rehberg joins K Street firm

Former Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) is headed to K Street.

Rehberg, who lost his Senate bid last year against Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), has joined Mercury/Clark & Weinstock as a co-chairman. Rehberg served 12 years in the House and was most recently chairman of the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services and Education subcommittee.

“I am excited to be joining the prestigious team at Mercury,” Rehberg said in a statement. “This firm has a sterling reputation and a proven track-record. Mercury will afford me the opportunity to work on the issues that have defined my career and matter most to the people of Montana.”

Rehberg will join other ex-lawmakers at the firm, including former Reps. Vin Weber (R-Minn.) and Max Sandlin (D-Texas), as well as ex-Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.).

The firm also announced the hire of two Democrats on Monday.

Karen Hinton, a former Clinton administration official, has merged her shop, Hinton Communications, with Mercury and will join the firm as a managing director.

Erick Mullen will also be a managing director at the firm. Mullen has been an aide to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), as well as a political consultant to retired Gen. Wesley Clark.

“Denny Rehberg, Karen Hinton, and Erick Mullen are critical additions in Washington as Mercury continues to build a national, bipartisan, best-in-class consultancy. We are thrilled they’ve agreed to join Mercury/Clark & Weinstock,” Weber said in a statement.

---