Rep. Engel Drops Nick Spano As His Lobbyist

Rep. Eliot Engel, D-Bronx

Rep. Eliot Engel, D-Bronx, is the latest to cut ties with Nick Spano’s lobbying firm after the former state senator pleaded guilty last week to federal tax evasion.

“The contract between Engel for Congress and Empire Strategic Planning has a 30-day cancellation clause and we have opted to invoke it,” Engel’s office said in a statement today to Gannett’s Albany Bureau.

Engel, a former state assemblyman, hired Spano’s firm last May at $5,000 a month to lobby for the Democratic congressman during the redistricting process, when all 27 House seats will be drawn. The contract ran until April 30, 2011. The district lines haven’t been released, but are expected to within the next few weeks.

Engel’s district runs through Bronx, Westchester and Rockland counties.

Spano’s clients have been fleeing: Yonkers Raceway, the Genting Group and the Westchester Medical Center have all dumped Spano since his guilty plea.

Jim Cavanaugh, an executive at the firm, told the Journal News that the firm has 28 clients and, “We have been in touch with all of our clients. We indicated that the matter involving Nick Spano had nothing to do with the firm, had nothing to do with the firm’s representation of our clients."

He added, “The vast majority of clients have indicated their continuing confidence in the firm and the firm’s ability to represent them.”