Government Ethics Posts
Avoidance of Conflict of Interest On and After Leaving Public Service
What restrictions, if any, should apply to former government officials who seek or accept private employment? Chapter 5 of the Government Ethics project examines the ethical concerns that arise when public servants move on to private sector employment.
Gifts From and Financial Relationships With Prohibited Sources
In the video below, Government Ethics Associate Reporter Richard W. Painter discusses the treatment of gifts to and financial transactions and relationships with public servants. Included below the video is the Black Letter and Comment from the 2018 Annual Meeting draft.
CDC Chief Takes Steps to Comply with Ethics Rules
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Dr. Robert R. Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has resigned positons at four entities, sold stock and forfeited options in two companies, and is signing his share of future patent licensing fees and royalty payments over to his university to comply with government ethics rules.
When Public Servants Receive Gifts
Richard Painter, Associate Reporter for ALI’s Government Ethics Principles project, provides insight on the treatment of gifts to and financial transactions and relationships with public servants in the video below.
Post-Government Employment Restrictions
Richard Briffault, Reporter for ALI’s Government Ethics Principles project, addresses the principles that ought to apply when a public servant leaves public employment for a private-sector position in the video below.
Ethics Agency Finds Hatch Act Violation
The Office of Special Counsel found that President Trump’s campaign manager Kellyanne Conway violated the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from using their office for partisan politics, after she advocated for Republican Roy Moore in Alabama’s recent Senate election during live television interviews broadcast from the White House lawn.
Oregon Government Ethics Commission Investigation Says Kitzhaber Used Public Office to Benefit Himself
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission released new findings that former Gov. John Kitzhaber used his public office for private gain.
CDC director bought tobacco stock while in office
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Brenda Fitzgerald, bought tobacco stock while in office, Politico reported Tuesday.
January Council Meeting Updates
At its meeting in Philadelphia on January 18 and 19, the Council reviewed drafts for several projects, with the following outcomes:
Project Spotlight: Principles of the Law, Government Ethics
I recently had the opportunity to speak to various elected officials and higher-education personnel in the countries of Georgia and Kazakhstan. I was excited to tell them about the ALI Project on Ethics and that there will be suggested guidelines which will be applicable to any interested public official or government. The audience members were very interested to hear about this timely project. I am sure the project will be met with great interest not only in North America, but also around the globe. It is truly an honor for me to be working with this eminent group of distinguished people to bring this project forward.