Letters After Leaving the White House

A senior political adviser to the President left the White House after one year and opened a consulting firm. Federal ethics law barred such officials, for one year after leaving, from knowingly communicating with their former agency on behalf of others, with intent to influence, about matters in which the agency had a direct and substantial interest. Within that year he wrote to senior White House staff urging support for a small South Bronx company seeking an Army engine contract, forwarded a maritime officers' union's request about civilian crews on navy vessels, and contacted National Security Council staff about continued production of a military attack aircraft. A jury convicted him on three of four counts. The defence argued that "knowingly" required proof that he knew the White House had a direct and substantial interest in each matter.