WASHINGTON—More than a decade ago, inspired by a boozy brunch with an Argentine ambassador, Jim Courtovich invited friends to a barbecue he nicknamed the Gaucho party, after the unruly horsemen of the pampas. In the years since, Mr. Courtovich, a public-affairs consultant, hosted dozens of lavish parties. The events weren’t just get-togethers. They were how he, and some Washington political fixers, did business, and how he rose to the top.

Source: Wall Street Journal January 02, 2020 20:37 UTC