Committee on Ethics

It may begin with an unusual media inquiry or a sudden spike in interest on social media. Just as often, it starts with a non-public request for documents or other evidence. Your boss or your staff have been accused of wrongdoing, and it falls to you to lead the response.…

Continue Reading Handling Investigations of Members of Congress and Congressional Staff: A How-To Guide for Chiefs of Staff

Following a string of high-profile investigations targeting Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, congressional ethics investigations are more visible than ever. Indeed, as we recently explored, the House Ethics Committee in particular may be moving toward a more active and transparent enforcement posture, with its…

Continue Reading Congressional Ethics Investigations: An Overview of Processes, Challenges, and Implications for Private Actors

Today Covington released an updated version of its manual for Chiefs of Staff to Members of Congress concerning best practices for responding to government investigations of Members and their staff.  Titled “A How-To Guide for Chiefs of Staff,” the manual describes how government investigations of Members and staff unfold and…
Continue Reading Covington Releases Investigations Manual for House and Senate Chiefs of Staff

Covington today released an updated version of its manual for Chiefs of Staff to Members of Congress concerning best practices for responding to government investigations of Members and their staff.  Titled “A How-To Guide for Chiefs of Staff,” the manual describes how government investigations unfold and the steps that Chiefs…
Continue Reading Covington Updates Investigations Manual for House and Senate Chiefs of Staff

The notion that the House and Senate Ethics Committees are inactive bodies, often implied in media coverage, is far from the truth.

During the previous Congress, the House Ethics Committee issued more than 900 formal advisory opinions and addressed more than 40,000 informal requests for guidance.  In the first half…
Continue Reading Ethics Enforcement in the 114th Congress

National Journal reported today that the House Ethics Committee quietly scrapped “decades of precedent” requiring Members of the House of Representatives and certain senior staff to disclose privately funded travel on annual financial disclosure forms.

Despite this change, travel costs still must be disclosed.  Under the current House travel rules,…
Continue Reading Despite House Ethics Rule Change, Privately Funded Travel Still Publicly Disclosed

It is about to become a little more challenging for companies to pay travel costs for House Members and staff.  Starting for trips on or after April 1, 2013, Members and employees of the House must submit pre-approval request forms to the House Ethics Committee at least 30 days prior…
Continue Reading Privately-Sponsored Travel For House Members and Staffers About To Get More Difficult

Last week, the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) issued a memorandum with a reminder about executive branch ethics rules governing holiday gifts and fundraising.  There is nothing unusual about guidance like this—late last month, for example, the House Ethics Committee issued one for House members and staff—but OGE’s guidance stands…
Continue Reading Poetic Ethics (Not To Be Confused with Ethical Poetry)

Inauguration Day may be a holiday in DC, but the congressional and executive branch gift rules still apply.  Today, the House Committee on Ethics issued guidance to House Members and staff regarding Inauguration events.  Today’s House guidance offered some clarity regarding who may pay for and who may attend certain…
Continue Reading Hosting an Inauguration Reception? Beware the Gift Rules.

Earlier this week, the House Committee on Ethics issued guidance on the House Gift Rule as a reminder of issues that might arise during the holiday season.  Absent an exception, Members and staff are prohibited under the House Gift Rule from accepting any gifts.  The Ethics Committee’s merry guidance focuses…
Continue Reading House Committee on Ethics Issues Holiday Guidance on the Gift Rule