Insider: Top government ethics officer was late disclosing his personal finances on multiple occasions

Insider: Top government ethics officer was late disclosing his personal finances on multiple occasions

"When the referees themselves don't follow the rules it sends a bad signal that the rules might not really matter," Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs at Common Cause, told Insider. "People who are in charge of ethics enforcement should be the No. 1 champions of fully complying with the letter and spirit of the law and all relevant regulations."

The top attorney for the federal government’s executive branch ethics office failed to file timely reports about his finances — an apparent violation of a transparency law, according to records reviewed by Insider.

The attorney, Office of Government Ethics General Counsel David Apol, missed deadlines to report at least 12 different bond transactions since 2015. In two instances representing five transactions, he filed his federally mandated reports several months past deadline.

Improperly reporting purchases and sales of bonds or stocks is a violation of the 2012 Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, or STOCK Act. Tardy disclosures are a common problem in the legislative branch, where members of Congress and their senior staff often miss reporting deadlines.

In his government role, Apol has greater expertise with the law than most. His responsibilities include reviewing financial disclosures and writing ethics guidance for nearly 3 million federal employees, including those who work in the White House.  …

“When the referees themselves don’t follow the rules it sends a bad signal that the rules might not really matter,” Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs at Common Cause, told Insider. “People who are in charge of ethics enforcement should be the No. 1 champions of fully complying with the letter and spirit of the law and all relevant regulations.” …

The issue goes even beyond the legislative branch. The Wall Street Journal reported that federal officials or their spouses have been trading stocks in companies their agencies oversee, and another investigation revealed that federal judges traded stocks in companies over which they were hearing cases.

Congress this year discussed changes to the STOCK Act and the US House even held a hearing following the publication of “Conflicted Congress.” But the House promptly aborted a vote on a bill drafted by Committee on House Administration Chair Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California that contained what critics called a massive loophole and was written without the input of members who’d been pushing the idea for months.

It’s unlikely that either chamber will vote on a measure before the end of this Congress. Biden has effectively been silent on the stock-ban issue, to the disappointment of good-government groups.

Short of an outright ban, the Committee on House Administration may decide to improve ethics training for federal lawmakers. Reforms could also include better enforcement or higher penalties, Scherb said.