lester, a

<div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Another constant in Brown’s bumpy career has been timely assists from his self-described “longtime friend and family attorney,” Andrew Lester. A prep-school contemporary of George W.’s brother Marvin, Lester pops up at crucial points in Brown’s life like a fairy godmother.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;"> When Brown lost an early legal job, Lester brought him in for a brief stint as his law partner. When horse-association problems engulfed Brown, Lester rushed to his defense. And on September 27, 2005, at a House select committee hearing investigating the Katrina blunders, there was the pin-striped Lester conspicuously whispering legal advice in Brown’s ear. Lester, who represented the Oklahoma Republican Party in a 2002 reapportionment battle, worked for a Bush-family-connected oil services firm when he was younger, has been a </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">close friend of Justice Clarence Thomas and regional director for the secretive Federalist Society (new Chief Justice John Roberts denied being a member until his name turned up on a list); he was also short-listed for a federal judgeship under George W. Bush.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;"> To this day, Lester insists his support is merely a factor of friendship, and maintains that Brown was eminently qualified for FEMA.</span></div><div></div>