Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) has hired a lawyer to sift through a potential deluge of job offers after he leaves Congress, according to a new report.
Robert Barnett is helping Rubio make his next professional steps after the former White House hopeful departs office in January, according to Politico Florida.
{mosads}“Senator Rubio has already received many — and will receive many more — inquiries from interested individuals and entities,” Barnett told the news outlet in an email. “They come from a wide variety of sources and reflect the fact that he will be in high demand.
“Of course, many of the speakers bureaus would want to sign him, too. He will likely also do some teaching. We won’t start negotiating anything until we receive guidance from the Ethics Committee.”
Politico Florida on Thursday reported that Rubio has ruled out two positions, however, reportedly having no interest in lobbying or working for a Wall Street firm.
The Florida lawmaker has additionally crossed out a gubernatorial run in 2018, but remains undecided about another Oval Office bid in the future.
Rubio’s spokesman said that Barnett’s hiring will help the lawmaker focus on finishing his Senate duties after suspending his presidential campaign in March.
“As he has said repeatedly, Senator Rubio is committed to completing his work in the Senate on behalf of the people of Florida and is looking forward to returning to life as a private citizen in January 2017 and pursuing opportunities in the private sector once his public service is complete,” Alex Burgos said in an email to Politico Florida.
“One advantage of hiring an attorney is you would get someone more skilled in negotiating good financial terms,” said lawyer Robert L. Walker, a former chief counsel and staff director of the House and Senate ethics committees.
“And you don’t have to get your hands dirty, so to speak,” added Walker, who currently works for Wiley Rein.