Orin Zento was an Earth Alliance negotiator.
In 2258, he arrived at Babylon 5 to deal with the station's docker's guild, who were threatening to strike. He refused to give any concessions to the guild, insisting that they return to work and trust that new personnel and equipment upgrades would come in time. Faced with a strike, he invoked the Rush Act, giving Commander Jeffrey Sinclair the authority to use any means necessary to resolve the situation. Contrary to Zento's expectations, Sinclair used this authority to divert funds from Babylon 5's military budget to address the workers' needs. Zento protested that this action was not in the spirit of the Rush Act, but Sinclair blunted defied him, noting that this action is fully within the letter of the law.
By doing so and embarrassing him, Sinclair made an enemy out of Zento and his friends in Earthgov.[1]