Caleb Burns Weighs In On Lobbyist Who Serves As A Federal Agency Executive Director

September 14, 2015

Caleb P. Burns, a partner in Wiley Rein’s Election Law & Government Ethics Practice, was quoted in an article published today by The New York Times about Jeffrey Farrow, head of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad, who also earned $750,000 as a lobbyist.

According to the article, Mr. Farrow’s position at the independent agency was that of a government contractor; however while in that role, he simultaneously had a different job, lobbying for clients including the governments of Puerto Rico and Palau. Observers noted that it is unusual for someone to collect a federal paycheck while lobbying the government.

“Whether or not there is a legal violation here, you do have a mixing of roles that I have certainly never seen before,” Mr. Burns said. “Someone burrowed so deeply in the government and yet at the same time engaging in lobbying and representing a foreign government—it is pretty brazen.”

To read the article, click here.