Cases included outside work for firms with financial interests in the performance of their official duties. Image: Photo Veterok/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe Office of Government Ethics has released its annual summary of prosecutions of federal employees under conflict of interest laws, a report serving as a reminder that some federal employment ethics laws carry potential criminal consequences as well as career consequences.
“The survey highlights how the Department of Justice enforces the criminal conflict of interest laws, and is a useful resource ethics officials can use to educate employees about how these laws apply in real-world situations,” the OGE said in language similar to that of the past.
The summary shows 11 cases against federal employees were resolved either through a judicial judgment or a settlement in 2024, three more than in 2023.
The cases included charges payments by a contractor to a government employee in exchange for preferential treatment related to contracts; outside work for firms while federally employed for firms with financial interests in the performance of their official duties; acceptance of free services from such a firm; and steering work to a firm in which an employee had a financial interest.
Penalties included imprisonment, supervised release, probation, fines and other assessments.
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See also,
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