In a statement to CNBC, AIG painted the lobbying hire as one more piece of its continuing outreach efforts in Washington.
"AIG has provided information about the company to government officials on an ongoing basis, and the reported activity is an extension of those efforts," the statement said.
(Read More: AIG Seeks Approval to File More Bank Suits.)
"Companies don't want to stay in the political wilderness any longer than they have to," said Michael Beckel of the Center for Public Integrity. "Now that AIG has regained a foothold, they are going to be back in a big way."
Documents indicate that AIG began lobbying several days before the taxpayers were fully reimbursed for their investment. The effective date of the lobbying registration was listed as Dec. 7. Treasury announced that it would sell all of its remaining holdings in AIG three days later, on Dec. 10.
—By CNBC's Eamon Javers; Follow him on Twitter: @eamonjavers