Exclusive: Mike Pompeo joins Torridon law firm
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Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July. Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Mike Pompeo, who was secretary of State and CIA director in the first Trump administration, is becoming of counsel to Torridon Law and is joining a related strategic advisory firm, Torridon Group.
Why it matters: The Torridon Group, founded by former Attorney General Bill Barr and former White House counsel Pat Cipollone, is in hot demand for expertise on energy, defense, antitrust and international issues.
Pompeo joins his West Point classmate, David Urban, already at Torridon.
- Pompeo also graduated from Harvard Law, served as a U.S. House member from Kansas between 2011 and 2017, when he left to join President Trump's administration.
- He spent a decade leading two manufacturing businesses — one aerospace and one oilfield — in Wichita.
Torridon's announcement says that as America's top diplomat, Pompeo "helped America become a massive energy exporter and a force for good in the Middle East," and "placed special emphasis on renewing alliances with key allies, including India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea."
- Barr said in a statement: "Working with Mike in the cabinet, I saw firsthand how Mike's incisive mind, sound judgment and high integrity made him a great American statesman."
What they're saying: Pompeo, 61, told Axios in an interview that he's known Barr and Cipollone for years, and said they have the "same values and same willingness to work hard to solve complex business/legal/regulatory problems and create value."
- Pompeo said he has known Dan Brouillette — co-chair of Torridon Group, and secretary of Energy in President Trump's first term — even longer. Both are former U.S. Army armor officers. "My service with him on Team Trump reinforced that we work well together," Pompeo said.
- Brouillette said in the announcement: "I'm absolutely certain Mike will bring to Torridon the same fearless leadership, strategic vision, and integrity that defined his service to the nation."
Pompeo told us he's "back doing what I did before running for Congress —working to build and invest in teams and people in the commercial world."
- He's on a few corporate boards and is a partner in a new private equity firm, Niobrara Capital.
- He's teaching at Columbia University and is distinguished chair at Liberty University's Helms School of Government.
Pompeo is also the new grandfather of 3-month-old Jack Michael Pompeo.
