A lobbyist for 40 years, William Chasey, an academic who had found his niche in the political labyrinth of Capitol Hill, enjoyed extraordinary access to all members of the US Congress, assembling one of the most powerful networks on the Hill. Hired to forge communications between Libya and the US Congress, a trip he took with a US Congressman to Tripoli for discussions with then Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi forever changed Chasey's life. Upon his return, his bank accounts were frozen, clients had been strongly discouraged from working with him; even his close friends had been advised not to take his calls or associate with him. Chasey's refusal to cooperate with the CIA resulted in the destruction of his reputation, a six-year FBI investigation and sting operation, financial ruin, criminal charges, and incarceration in federal prison.
