Robert Walker Discusses Public Scrutiny of Lawmakers’ Financial Investments

Robert L. Walker, of counsel in Wiley Rein’s Election Law & Government Ethics Practice, was quoted by The Huffington Post in a November 1 article about public scrutiny faced by members of Congress who own stock in companies with ties to sanctioned countries or a stake in pending legislation.

Congress is unlikely to take new steps to restrict members’ investments, said Mr. Walker, former chief counsel for both the House and Senate ethics committees.  “The primary way in which potential financial conflicts are policed and regulated is through public scrutiny and public evaluation,” he said.

“Members have to be sensitive not just to whether a particular investment is prohibited under the very liberal conflict-of-interest regime in the House and Senate,” he added.  “They also have to ask if this going to raise some significant appearance issues.”  Click here to read the full article.