Walter Shaub Statement on Emory Rounds Clearing Committee for Confirmation to Lead Office of Government Ethics

Rounds is the right pick to lead OGE during time of ‘historic challenges’

Walter Shaub, senior director, ethics, at CLC, released the following statement:

“Emory Rounds is the right pick to lead the Office of Government Ethics (OGE). Through the confirmation process, Rounds has demonstrated an appreciation for the responsibility to preserve the government ethics program in this time of ethical crisis. He is also acutely aware of the significant limitations on the director’s authority, and I believe he will do his utmost within existing parameters to confront the historic challenges OGE faces. Now that he has cleared the committee, I hope the full Senate will confirm him. Rounds has shown that he values OGE’s independence from the White House. I was particularly impressed that he committed during his confirmation hearing to review OGE’s inappropriate blessing of the Patriot Legal Expense Fund Trust, LLC, an unethical legal defense fund constructed in a way that potentially gives the president’s allies power to influence witness testimony in the Russia investigation. The challenge of reviewing – and hopefully reversing – OGE’s previous action on that fund may be one of the greatest challenges he will face while in office if he is confirmed. I anticipate that the Senate would follow up to learn the outcome of his review.”