Ashcroft consulting firm prospers

JEFFERSON CITY, Miss., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said in Missouri his consulting firm is successfully helping businesses connect with federal agencies.

Ashcroft Group LLC, which was founded by Ashcroft after he retired from the Bush Administration two years ago, now serves a client list of 30, including many companies that produce technology used for Homeland Security, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

"It's a continuation of the aspiration I have that our nation have access to the best possible resources to fight terror, whether domestic or international," Ashcroft said on his Missouri cattle farm.

The former attorney general and governor of Missouri said the Ashcroft Group holds equity stakes eight of the companies it consults for, and it plans to continue heading in that direction to turn the company's focus to venture capital.

Ashcroft's client list includes New Mexico-based Nanodetex Corp., which manufactures technology to detect airborne pathogens; Missouri firm Exegy Inc., which performs high-speed data mining; Innova Holdings Inc., which designs software for remotely controlling robots; and Northern Virginia company Dulles Research LLC, which creates technology to detect terrorists by analyzing behavior patterns.