A Mexican tycoon at the heart of a federal campaign finance probe in San Diego has hired high-powered Washington, D.C. law firm Williams & Connolly LLP.
Sources say lawyers from Williams & Connolly flew in last week to help in a potential defense of Jose Susumo Azano Matsura.
Three men have been charged with conspiring to funnel $500,000 of Azano's money into San Diego elections.
Azano is a Mexican citizen. Foreign nationals are barred from contributing to U.S. elections. Azano has not been charged. But 50 federal agents searched two Coronado homes linked to him for eight hours last Wednesday.
The law firm of Williams & Connelly is known for representing the upper-crust of Hollywood and politicians to including former President Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
In his book, "Masters of the Game: Inside The World's Most Powerful Law Firm," author Kim Eisler writes that opposing lawyers of Williams & Connolly called their tactics the "scorpion defense," because when attacked, they sting.
