Since leaving his post as Rhode Island's attorney general, Patrick Lynch has lobbied his former office several times. But he has never registered with the state as a lobbyist.
Lynch denies he lobbied. But emails he and his assistant sent to the office of current Attorney General Peter Kilmartin and released to The Associated Press show him pushing for actions on several topics.
One email shows the deputy attorney general saying the office did not sign onto something because of Lynch's "outstanding advocacy."
Under state law, lobbying is defined as acting or soliciting others to promote, oppose or influence decisions or actions by the executive branch. Lobbyists must register annually.
John Marion, executive director of the advocacy group Common Cause, says it's clear Lynch lobbied and should have registered.
