Robert L. Walker

With the change of Presidential Administrations and with a new Congress, many current federal government officials and employees – whether elected, appointed, or hired – are exploring employment opportunities in the private sector. In their new positions, these officials and employees – particularly if they are coming from the Executive branch – will need to comply with an array of statutory and other restrictions, some of them specific to their former employing agency, on their post-government employment activities. Restrictions may apply, as well, to their activities in seeking, negotiating for, or agreeing to new employment. The burden of compliance does not fall only on the former official or employee: Private-sector employers hiring from the government may also have legal exposure if relevant requirements and restrictions are not observed. And remember: Violations of federal statutory post-employment restrictions may be punished as felony criminal offenses.

Robert L. Walker, of counsel in the Election Law & Government Ethics Practice, and associates Hannah Bingham and Hannah J. Miller are featured as authors in the 2024 edition of the American Bar Association’s Lobbying Manual. Walker and Bingham co-authored Chapter 26 of the manual, “Hiring from the Executive Branch: Restrictions on Post-Government Employment and on Seeking Employment,” while Walker and Miller co-authored Chapter 27 of the manual, “Hiring from Congress: Post-Employment and Employment Negotiation Restrictions on Members, Officers, and Employees of the U.S. House and Senate.”

Under new joint guidance issued by the U.S. House Committee on Ethics, Committee on House Administration, and Communications Standards Commission, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives may officially co-sponsor certain events with nonprofit entities. Specifically, in limited circumstances, individual Members (but not committees or Congressional Member Organizations) may now co-sponsor “constituent service events” with organizations qualified under §170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code (e.g., §501(c)(3) charitable organizations).

The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics has issued a “Dear Colleague” Letter, and the U.S. House Committee on Ethics has issued a Pink Sheet advisory, reminding Members and staff of the rules applicable to attending events and receiving gifts during the course of the national party conventions. The Senate “Dear Colleague” also reminds Members, officers, and employees of the key rules governing their participation in campaign activity.

Hiring from or heading to the federal government? Don’t get tripped up by post-employment or conflict of interest rules. Wiley's Robert L. Walker breaks down the “revolving door” restrictions every organization should know – especially if you’re building out your government affairs team or have an employee entering public service.

With the Republican and Democratic National Conventions only a few weeks away, Wiley's Rob Walker highlights important campaign finance and government ethics laws and rules, to ensure you and your organization's participation is both impactful and compliant.

Congressman George Santos was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2022, representing New York’s Third Congressional District. On May 10, 2023 he was arraigned in Federal District Court in Long Island, NY on a 13-count criminal indictment for allegedly defrauding donors, illegally obtaining unemployment benefits, and lying about his income and his assets on public financial disclosure forms. Why does the indictment cover only a small portion of what has been reported about Congressman Santos’s alleged wrongdoings? Listen as Election Law & Government Ethics attorneys Rob Walker and Caleb Burns discuss why the indictment is narrowly focused, how the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will work to prove these charges, and more.

In this podcast, Wiley partner Carol Laham and of counsel Rob Walker discuss the ins and outs of the LD-203 Contribution Report. The LD-203 is due semi-annually with the next one due on August 1, 2022. The report requires all federally registered lobbyist firms, organizations, and self-employed individuals to disclose all details related to lobbying activity. With the deadline looming, Carol and Rob answer common questions about the report, break down the requirements, and dole out best practices for ensuring compliance.

Listen to Robert L. Walker, of counsel in Wiley’s Election Law and Government Ethics Practice and Kara M. Sacilotto, a partner in Wiley’s Government Contracts Practice, discuss “Hiring Individuals from the Government: What Post-Employment Looks Like.” This episode provides an overview of key legal, ethical, and practical pitfalls encountered from individuals and some of the unique issues government contractors face when hiring former government employees.