A few weeks after Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak stepped down in response to the public outrage against his 30 year rule, the Egyptian government’s PR outfit in Washington terminated their operation, records show. Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter and Associates ended their representation of the Egyptian press office on February 28, 2011, shortly after Mubarak resigned on February 11.

From November 2010 to March 2011, the Egypt Press and Information Bureau paid the lobbying group $200,000 in fees and expenses. The lobby shop was hired in April 2009 and was paid a total of $985,000 during that period.

Their last call on behalf of their client was placed February 14 and since November Chlopak made 25 press calls and sent 49 emails, mostly to media outlets and think tanks on behalf of their client. Press calls included, Politico, Washington Post, CNN, NPR and Newsweek.

Many of the emails and calls were regarding an “Embassy Reception” but no meetings were recorded in the most recent filings. Emails also promoted a section titled “100 Facts About Egypt.”

FARA records show Peter Schechter, a partner in the firm, and Brian Doory, were both directly involved with the Egyptian account. Schechter served as the deputy staff director for the House Subcommittee on International Development Institutions and Finance and worked at National Public Radio and the Inter-American Development Bank. Doory was a campaign manager for former Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson’s D-Ill. during her 2008 campaign.  

Chlopak and Associates have some experience representing countries during trying political time and have represented Honduran interests during the government coup in 2009.