Lobbyist Arrested on Extortion Charge for Seeking Pardon

Josh Nass, a lawyer and lobbyist who recently represented a former nursing home executive seeking a pardon, was arrested on an extortion charge on Friday. The arrest raises questions about the murky world of lobbying and political influence, and the lengths some may go to in pursuit of securing pardons or other favors from government officials.

According to the Department of Justice, Nass is accused of threatening to publicly embarrass and financially ruin an unnamed individual if they did not pay him a substantial sum of money. The alleged victim is believed to have been connected to the pardon case Nass was working on, though the details remain unclear.