Squire Patton Boggs has parted ways with former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, who had been with the firm since its predecessor acquired his boutique lobby shop in 2010 and had co-led its public policy practice.

The firm did not provide an explanation for its sudden decision to change the leadership of the practice during a period of intense attention on continuing racial inequalities nationwide. But the former U.S. senator from Mississippi carries with him significant baggage on the subject, having resigned from his role as Senate Minority Leader in 2003 after praising Sen. Strom Thurmond’s 1948 bid for the presidency on a segregationist platform.