Asa Hutchinson, the former congressman and federal Homeland Security undersecretary, said Friday he has returned to his old Washington law firm in a new position following his defeat in the 2006 Arkansas governor's race.

Hutchinson, a Republican who lost to Democrat Mike Beebe in the Nov. 7 general election, said he rejoined the Venable law firm as a partner, but as a litigator rather than in the lobbying role he served after leaving the Bush administration in early 2005.

He said he would split his time between Washington and Little Rock, where he formed the Hutchinson Group, a homeland security consulting firm.

"I've got a great team built up here for consulting and business development," Hutchinson said. "But in my heart I'm a litigator and I want to return to the courtroom."

Hutchinson was a federal prosecutor in Arkansas and later litigated more than 200 cases in private practice before being elected to Congress in 1996.

He was a House manager during the impeachment of President Clinton.

He was appointed by President Bush to head the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in 2001 and later headed border and transportation security in the Homeland Security Department.

He joined the Venable firm after leaving the department and before entering the governor's race.

During the race, his job at the firm came under criticism from Democrats who accused him of violating ethics laws by lining up the job before leaving government. He denied wrongdoing.

Hutchinson said Friday he returned to the firm as a senior litigant, to oversee complex litigation as well as handle complex investigations, corporate and congressional.

He said he would maintain his home and residency in Arkansas.