Randy Evans

J. Randolph "Randy" Evans, the chair of the Financial Institutions practice at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA), "handles high profile, complex litigation matters in state and federal courts throughout the United States for some of the largest companies in the world." 

Evans served as outside counsel to both Newt Gingrich and J. Dennis Hastert, Speakers of the United States House of Representatives, as well as to House Majority Whip Roy Blunt and former Representative from Oklahoma and House GOP Chairman J.C. Watts Evans joined MLA on October 15, 2003. 

Evans is chairman of the board of the Newt Gingrich Companies. He is also chairman of the board of the J.C. Watts Companies (J.C. Watts, Jr., Founder and Chairman)

Profiles
"Randy Evans is probably best known nationally for his representation of former Speaker Newt Gingrich against ethics complaints made with the Committee on Standards in the United States House of Representatives. In 1996, then Speaker Newt Gingrich tapped Mr. Evans to lead his defense against ethics complaints when issues arose concerning a letter prepared by Gingrich’s existing counsel. Subsequently, Mr. Evans negotiated an agreement that permitted Mr. Gingrich to remain as Speaker. In 1997, Mr. Evans crafted the 'Dole loan agreement'" -- (re $300,000 loan from former Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole) -- "for the payment of a portion of the cost assessment made as a part of the ethics agreement. Since then, he has added to Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, former House GOP Chairman J.C. Watts, as well as a number of other United States Senators and Congressmen as client."

"Evans made his first mark in the area of Speaker politics and law in February 1988 when he assisted then Congressman Newt Gingrich with the drafting of the ethics complaint against then Speaker Jim Wright. Eventually, Speaker Wright resigned, leading to Gingrich’s elevation to Minority Whip of the House GOP Conference in 1989."

"Evans continued in the area following Mr. Gingrich’s resignation. In 1999, newly elected Speaker J. Dennis Hastert kept Mr. Evans on as his counsel. ... Evans announced the negotiation and approval of a book contract for the publication of a book by Speaker Hastert to be published by Regnery Publishing, Inc. In addition, he briefed the Speaker Hastert’s position regarding the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act before the United States Supreme Court (which was argued on September 8, 2003)."

"In conjunction with Susan B. Hirschmann (former Chief of Staff for Majority Leader Tom Delay), and Bill Paxon (former National Republican Campaign Committee Chairman), Mr. Evans also designed and formed the first political organization after the effective date of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act to receive nonfederal money. After challenges by Common Cause, the Federal Election Commission found that the entity as structured could accept nonfederal money."


 * "[F]our groups — the Campaign and Media Legal Center, the Center for Responsive Politics, Common Cause and Democracy 21 — complained to the Federal Election Commission that the Democratic National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee had illegally set up groups that would continue to raise soft money."


 * "The four groups cited the creation of the Democratic State Parties Organization, saying it was 'engaged in an illegal scheme to spend soft money' on the 2004 federal elections.


 * "The four groups also said the Leadership Forum, a new group led by the former chief of staff to the incoming House majority leader, Tom DeLay, Republican of Texas, planned to raise and spend money to help House candidates in 2004, even though it received a $1 million donation from the national Republican organization...."

"Randy Evans has served as General Counsel to the Georgia Republican Party since his appointment by then Georgia GOP Chairman Ralph Reed. He was reappointed by Georgia GOP Chairman Alec Pointevint in 2003. In addition, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue appointed, (and the Georgia State Senate confirmed) Mr. Evans to the Georgia State Election Board in 2003. While serving as Presiding Justice, Chief Justice Norman Fletcher of the Georgia Supreme Court appointed Mr. Evans as a Special Master of the Court."

Evans graduated summa cum laude from West Georgia College and magna cum laude from the University of Georgia. He is a member of both the Georgia and District of Columbia bars.

Source: "Arnall, Golden, Gregory, LLP Just Lost Their Entire Political Law Practice," Political Vine, October 8, 2003.

SourceWatch Resources

 * Newt Gingrich
 * J.C. Watts, Jr.

Profiles

 * Randy Evans' MCA Profile.

Articles & Commentary

 * Greg McDonald, "Dole set to help Gingrich with a $300,000 loan. House speaker says he plans to repay money within 8 years," Houston Chronicle, April 17, 1997.
 * David Corn, "Gingrich vs. Gingrich. Why has the former speaker of the House chosen to let his dirty linen be brought out for all to see?" Salon, November 24, 1999.
 * Richard A. Oppel, Jr., "Groups Say Parties Plan to Skirt Campaign Law," New York Times (Campaign Legal Center), November 22, 2002.
 * Leighton Moore, "Justices heed law, not politics," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 20, 2005.