A Free-Speech Case Creates Unusual Allies

He co-founded Homeland Solutions , a consulting company that works for "security-related service providers in the intelligence and law enforcement communities."

Tomarchio said he was not looking for the DHS job and was approached several times over the last year about the possibility of returning to government. Around November, he said, he was approached about the DHS position.

Although he doesn't "know a lot about what the job will entail because it's just starting," Tomarchio said, "I want to do a good job for the country and DHS."

Charles E. Allen, Tomarchio's new boss at DHS, "is delighted to have a man of Mr. Tomarchio's credentials," said DHS spokeswoman Michelle Petrovich, and his "abilities will serve to significantly strengthen the department's relationships with state and local officials as well as the private sector."

Former Rep. Sandlin Joins Greenberg Traurig

Former House member Max Sandlin (D-Tex.) joined Greenberg Traurig 's governmental affairs and litigation practices this week. He will be lobbying and litigating, working on such issues as health care, trade and taxes.

Sandlin, a former member of the Ways and Means Committee, lost his reelection bid last year after the GOP-led redistricting of Texas. Since then, Sandlin says he has been practicing law. The year-long federal ethics restrictions preventing him from buttonholing his former colleagues on the Hill expired Tuesday.

Barbour Griffith Adds Former Hyde Aide

John Walker Roberts , deputy chief of staff to the House International Relations Committee since April 2001, stepped off the Hill yesterday and joined Barbour Griffith & Rogers Internationa l as a vice president.

BGRI is the international practice, headed by ex-U.S. ambassador to India Robert D. Blackwill , of GOP lobby shop Barbour Griffith & Rogers .

At the House committee for 17 years, Roberts was the chief foreign policy, national security and trade adviser to Chairman Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.). Earlier, Roberts served stints in the Reagan White House legislative affairs office and at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.