Jon Kyl returns to private life after serving as Arizona senator
Jan 7, 2019, 11:21 AM | Updated: 2:15 pm
Former Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., answers a question after Gov. Doug Ducey, R-Ariz., announced the appointment of Kyl to fill Sen. John McCain's seat in the U.S. Senate at a news conference at the Arizona Capitol Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — Jon Kyl returned to the private sector after serving as a U.S. senator for Arizona for the last couple of months, it was announced Monday.
Kyl again joined the international law firm Covington & Burling in its public policy practice and will focus on matters of policy and strategy for the firm’s clients.
“Given (Kyl’s) profile and depth of experience in Washington, we expect he can make important contributions in a range of matters, particularly for clients in the technology, life sciences, and defense sectors who may face numerous policy challenges in Congress and the executive branch,” Timothy Hester, Covington’s chair, said in a statement.
This is the second time Kyl will have worked for the law firm: He advised clients and worked with its government affairs team in 2013, according to Politico.
During his first stint at Covington & Burling, Kyl lobbied on behalf of young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children, often called “Dreamers,” whose fate is in limbo after President Donald Trump tried to end an Obama-era program protecting them from deportation and Congress deadlocked on a solution.
Kyl also represented defense giant Northrop Grumman. His work was primarily focused on tax issues affecting the company, but Covington & Burling also lobbied the House and Senate to drum up support for the B-21 bomber, a stealth aircraft Northrop Grumman is building for the Air Force.
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The Arizona Republican had reportedly been offered the position of Defense secretary, but he told the White House last week that he was not interested.
Kyl had served in the U.S. Senate from September until December after Gov. Doug Ducey appointed him to serve after John McCain died of brain cancer in August.
Kyl had served in the Senate from 1994 to 2013 and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 to 1995.
He also worked as a lobbyist before he was elected to the House and after he left the Senate the first time.
Ethics laws prohibit Kyl from lobbying for two years after he leaves public office.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
