News & Politics

Hill Staffer Scores Well on “Jeopardy!”

Paul Nelson has qualified for the show’s tournament of champions.

By Carol Ross Joynt on January 17, 2013

Paul Nelson with Jeopardy host Alex Trebek. Photograph courtesy of Jeopardy Productions, Inc.

Paul Nelson’s day job is as a staff aide for Iowa Republican senator
Charles Grassley. But in his off hours he’s a game show contestant—and apparently quite good at it.
He’s done so well on
Jeopardy!—winning, so far, $54,900—that he has qualified to compete in the tournament of champions
that will run for two weeks, starting February 13. He will be one of 15 trying to
win a grand prize of $250,000.

In a press release, host
Alex Trebek called the tournament “a welcome opportunity for me to catch up with returning players.”
He said it is also “a challenge for the contestants, some of whom have watched their
competitors’ shows and know what they’re up against.”