Rudy Giuliani is defending his law firm's role in representing an oil company controlled by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The former New York City Mayor says his law firm's relationship with Citgo Petroleum helps protect American jobs. But he acknowledges his political opponents will try to exploit recent news that a lawyer with his Houston law firm has been representing Citgo before the Texas legislature. Citgo Petroleum is a U-S-based company bought in 1990 by Venezuela's national oil company. It employs thousands of people in the U-S. Chavez has criticized President Bush and is close to Fidel Castro. So Citgo has become unpopular with some Americans. Giuliani is seeking the Republican nomination for president in 2008. |