Gutman Is An Attorney At Washington, D.C., Law Firm Williams & Connolly LLP. "In his over twenty-five years with the firm, Howard Gutman has handled the full gamut of litigation, investigation, and counseling matters." (Williams & Connolly LLP Web site, www.wc.com, Accessed 5/19/08)
In 1999 And 2000, Gutman Was A Registered Federal Lobbyist For Williams & Connolly LLP. (U.S. Senate Office Of Public Records Web site, sopr.senate.gov, Accessed 5/19/08)
Gutman Represented Bolivia's Former President Gonzalo Sanchez De Lozada And Former Defense Minister Jose Carlos Sanchez Berzain, Who Were Accused Of Using Controversial Tactics In Response To A Political Protest. "Four-and-a-half years later, Ramos and her husband are among 10 Bolivians suing the country's former president and defense minister over the government response to the protests, which killed 67 civilians and injured 400 more. This week, a federal judge in Maryland consolidated two lawsuits filed last fall, one in Maryland against former Bolivian President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, and the other in Miami against former defense minister Jose Carlos Sanchez Berzain. … Howard Gutman, a Washington attorney for Sanchez de Lozada and Berzain, said the lawsuit should be dismissed because U.S. courts have no jurisdiction over actions taken by foreign leaders under their own country's laws. The protests ultimately resulted in the government's ouster on Oct. 17, 2003." (Curt Anderson, "Bolivia's Ex-President Targeted In US Lawsuit Over Deaths," The Associated Press, 4/17/08)
- Sanchez De Lozada Was Accused Of "Crimes Against Humanity" After Over 60 Protesters Were Killed By Soldiers; He Responded That Clearing Roads "Isn't A Crime In This Or Any Country." "In October 2003, Sanchez de Lozada ordered the military to clear the roads near La Paz in an effort to ease shortages of food and other goods. More than 60 people died in the clashes, and he resigned and fled on Oct. 17. The lawsuit alleges that he 'aided and abetted' the armed forces to 'commit acts of extrajudicial killing, crimes against humanity.' Gutman said that trying to free trapped tourists and clearing roads 'isn't a crime in this or any country.' He charged that [new Bolivian president Evo] Morales, who became president early last year, was going after Sanchez de Lozada 'to deflect the responsibility for the September and October deaths from himself and his movement.'" (Pablo Bachelet, "Suit Blames Ex-Bolivian Leader For Civilian Massacre," McClatchy-Tribune News Service, 11/20/07)
In 2001, Gutman Represented Susan Rosenberg, A One-Time Member Of The Weather Underground Who Was Pardoned By Former President Bill Clinton. "An unusual combination of New York political and law enforcement leaders have condemned former President Bill Clinton's pardon of Susan L. Rosenberg, a one-time member of the Weather Underground terrorist group who was charged in the notorious 1981 Brink's robbery in Rockland County that left a guard and two police officers dead. … She requested a pardon after federal prosecutors in 1999 cited evidence of her role in the Brink's case as a reason she should not be paroled on the New Jersey charges. Because she was never tried or convicted in the Rockland County case, it was unfair to deny her parole, her lawyer, Howard Gutman, said yesterday." (Eric Lipton, "Officials Criticize Clinton's Pardon Of An Ex-Terrorist," The New York Times, 1/22/01)
- Rosenberg Served 16 Years In Jail After She Was Caught Unloading 740 Pounds Of Dynamite And Weapons In New Jersey And Admitted That She Had Planned To Supply Others For "Politically Motivated Bombings." "Ms. Rosenberg served 16 years in jail after she was found with a companion in New Jersey in 1984 unloading 740 pounds of dynamite and weapons, including a submachine gun, from a car. She admitted her role in the New Jersey case, in which she had planned to supply others with explosives for politically motivated bombings." (Eric Lipton, "Officials Criticize Clinton's Pardon Of An Ex-Terrorist," The New York Times, 1/22/01)
- Rosenberg Was Not Prosecuted But Was Wanted On Charges Related To A 1981 Armored Car Robbery To Help Raise Funds For The Weather Underground. "At the time of her arrest, she was wanted on charges related to the 1981 armed robbery of a Brink's armored car in Nanuet, N.Y., a holdup that was supposed to raise money for the Weather Underground and other radical groups. But Ms. Rosenberg denied any involvement in the Brink's robbery and was never tried on those charges, because Mr. Giuliani, then the United States attorney in Manhattan, indicated that given her 58-year sentence on the New Jersey weapons charges, there was no need to proceed with that case." (Eric Lipton, "Officials Criticize Clinton's Pardon Of An Ex-Terrorist," The New York Times, 1/22/01)
- Rosenberg's Pardon Was Criticized By Both Republicans And Democrats. "Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, a Republican, and United States Senator Charles E. Schumer, a Democrat, were among those who criticized the pardon, as did Bernard B. Kerik, New York City's police commissioner, and David Trois, a Rockland County police union official." (Eric Lipton, "Officials Criticize Clinton's Pardon Of An Ex-Terrorist," The New York Times, 1/22/01)
In 2000, Howard Gutman Was Attorney For Frank E. Corrente, Former City Administrator In Providence, RI Indicted For Extortion, Mail Fraud And Conspiracy. "Frank E. Corrente, 71, the former director of city administration, was indicted in late June on four counts of attempted extortion, two counts of mail fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit extortion and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Prosecutors say Corrente attempted to extort money from a city contractor and accepted two cash bribes of $ 1,000 each from a local businessman working undercover for the FBI. They also accuse Corrente of receiving an additional $ 1,200 in cash sent through a city tax official by the undercover witness. … Corrente could not be reached by telephone. His attorney, Howard Gutman of Williams & Connolly in the District, declined to comment." (Pamela Ferdinand, "Corruption Probe Moving Closer To R.I. Mayor," The Washington Post, 8/4/00)
Gutman Represented Former Union Leader Arthur Coia, Who Pled Guilty To Mail Fraud In 2000. "As president, Arthur Coia, 60, was much investigated but never charged for alleged ties to the Patriarca mob family in New England. But in 2000, he pleaded guilty to mail fraud for evading taxes on a $1.1 million 1972 Ferrari Daytona and two other sports cars. … 'He hired a team of former FBI agents and led what was without a doubt the most successful union reform effort ever conducted,' said Howard Gutman, his attorney." (Douglas Feiden, "Sleazy Labor Leaders Live High On Hog As Members Struggle To Earn A Weekly Wage," [New York] Daily News, 2/1/04)
Gutman Was Lawyer Representing Thomas J. Ward In Major British Corporate Scandal. "A Washington attorney is giving up a two-year extradition fight and agreeing to go to London to stand trial in Britain's biggest corporate scandal. Thomas J. Ward denies the British government's charges that he received an illegal $8.3 million payoff from the Guinness brewing company in connection with its multibillion-dollar 1986 hostile takeover of a giant Scottish firm, Distillers PLC. … Howard Gutman, another attorney representing Ward, refused to discuss the agreement until next week." (Laurie Asseo, "U.S. Lawyer To Stand Trial In Major British Scandal," The Oregonian, 6/12/91)
NOTE: "Mr. Gutman Appeared In Several Episodes Of The HBO Series 'K Street,' Playing (Not Surprisingly) A Washington Attorney And Has Made Other Movie And Media Appearances." (Williams & Connolly LLP Web site, www.wc.com, Accessed 5/19/08)Gutman Has A Background In Democrat Politics And Assisted Former Vice President Al Gore's Presidential Campaign In 2000. "Outside the firm, Mr. Gutman has served as an adviser to a variety of Democratic candidates, including assisting in races for President, Governor, Senate, and Congress. He assisted the Gore campaign in Florida in 2000." (Williams & Connolly LLP Web site, www.wc.com, Accessed 5/19/08)
- Prior To Joining Obama's Fundraising Team, Gutman Raised Money For Former Gov. Mark Warner's (D-VA) Potential Presidential Bid. "One of those who decided not to raise money for Mrs. Clinton's campaign is Howard Gutman, a Washington lawyer who raised money for former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner before he withdrew from the Democratic nomination race. He is now raising money for Sen. Barack Obama, Illinois Democrat, who is in second place in most Democratic presidential polls…" (Donald Lambro, "Hillary's Pressure Bruises Fundraising," The Washington Times, 4/20/07)
"On The Laura Ingraham Radio Show … Attorney Howard Gutman -- An Original Member Of The National Finance Committee For Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. -- Very Directly Criticized The Parenting Of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin." (Jake Tapper, "Obama Campaign National Finance Committee Member Criticizes Palin's Parenting," ABC News' "Political Punch" Blog, http://blogs.abcnews.com, 9/5/08)
Gutman Is A Bundler For Obama's Presidential Campaign And Has Committed To Raising Over $500,000. (Obama For America Web site, www.barackobama.com, Accessed 8/8/08)
Gutman Has Donated $4,600 To Obama's Federal Campaigns. (Center For Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 9/7/08)