Carmen GroupThe Carmen Group has agreed to pay a $125K fine to settle allegations that it violated the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act.

The settlement is the largest one obtained under the LDA since the measure went into effort in 1995.

"The American public has a right to know about the efforts of paid lobbyists to influence legislative and executive decision-making," said US attorney Vincent Cohen in a statement released today. "This settlement reflects our determination to seek significant penalties from repeat offenders who fail to meet their reporting obligation."

Carmen Group denies it knowingly broke the law. It said, "management had no knowledge that administrative lapses occurred," bureaucratic shortcomings that it blames on a former employee.

The settlement, according to the 30-year-old firm, resolves the matter "as the most efficient way to minimize cost."