Ethics Nominee Represents Stability in a Sea of Chaos

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Some challenges will be insurmountable, but at least Rounds is committed to government ethics program

“I was very excited to learn the White House is nominating Emory Rounds to be OGE’s next Director,” said Walter Shaub, senior director, ethics at Campaign Legal Center. “I have known him since 2006 when he was the deputy to the Bush administration’s ethics official, Richard Painter. Emory is a good and decent man who has devoted his life to public service. He believes in the government ethics program, and he will ably lead OGE. I’m sure the staff is relieved to learn the nominee is someone steeped in knowledge of – and concern for – the ethics program, rather than a political appointee with a partisan agenda. I hope the Senate confirms Emory quickly, because we need a new permanent head of OGE. He’s a great pick for this position.”

“Some challenges will be insurmountable, such as persuading the President to divest his conflicting financial interests or getting the White House to be more transparent about the ethics problems of its immediate staff. However, Emory is the right person to hold OGE together and preserve as much of the ethics program as possible. As a nominee to be Director, I think he represents a degree of stability in a sea of chaos.”