Former governor William Weld not in town for Brown

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff

Former Governor William Weld stepped out of the US Capitol elevator less than an hour before Senator-elect Scott Brown was to be sworn in. He was about 50 feet from the office where fellow Massachusetts Republican Brown was gathering, but that's not what Weld was here for.

"Where's the exit?" he said to a small gaggle of reporters and cameramen.

He then started walking in the opposite direction.

Approached by a reporter, he said he wasn't in Washington for Brown.

"Just client business," he said, declining to be more specific.

When asked if he was going to stay for Brown's ceremony, he said, "No. I'm going back to New York."

He then walked down the hallway, still in search of the exit.

Weld is listed in public records as being a registered lobbyist in recent years for several corporations, including Raytheon and CNX Gas Corp.