During Charles’ decade-plus career in Washington, his lobbying firm collected at least $512,000 from clients that have been accused of defrauding or overbilling taxpayers, benefited from lucrative no-bid government contracts, bribed public officials, and even engaged in illegal campaign contributions.
How can Mainers trust Charles to clean up government with his track record?
For years, Charles made a living lobbying for companies that profited from the government practices he now denounces. His firm was still lobbying in 2026, after Charles had already launched his campaign for governor.
Maine Beacon: Longtime lobbyist Bobby Charles rails against lobbyists, pledges to fight practices his clients engaged in
By Channa Steinmetz – August 31, 2026
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Republican gubernatorial nominee Bobby Charles recently told WGAN that giving money as a lobbyist means “you’re essentially believing that you’re going to buy a favor.”
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But Charles, who has made government fraud and waste allegations a centerpiece of his own campaign for governor, lobbied for years for companies that defrauded or overbilled the federal government, bribed officials, and even engaged in election fraud.
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Charles has worked for more than a decade lobbying for companies that overcharged taxpayers, held lucrative no-bid contracts or later became involved in federal fraud and bribery cases, with his company receiving at least $512,000 from such clients, including major defense contractors.
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Charles spent 16 of the 17 years between 2000 and 2016 as a registered lobbyist and founded The Charles Group, a lobbying firm he still leads. The firm reported lobbying as recently as the first quarter of 2026, after Charles had launched his campaign for governor.
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One such client was MZM Inc., which paid Charles’ firm to lobby in 2005. MZM had received more than $150 million from the Defense Department under a no-bid contract worth up to $250 million — the same type of contract Charles now promises to eliminate in Maine.
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The company’s founder and CEO, Mitchell Wade, later pleaded guilty to bribing then-Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham in exchange for government business. MZM and Wade also agreed to pay a $1 million penalty over illegal straw political contributions.
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Charles’ firm also received at least $276,000 lobbying for Bell Helicopter and its parent company Textron between 2000 and 2007. Bell later paid more than $16.5 million to resolve claims involving overbilling of the Defense Department.
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In 2026, the Charles Group remains an active lobbying firm. Its website listed Charles as its “president and managing member” in April, roughly a year after he announced his campaign for governor.
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