Enforcement
The many investigatory authorities further complicate the ethics aspect of life in federal service. The General Accounting Office (1987) summarized the following three general routes to enforcement, meaning investigation of alleged violations of conflict- of-interest standards.
Agency enforcement: “The investigation . . . is primarily the responsibility of the Inspectors General. Also, allegations the DAEOs receive . . . are to be forwarded to the IG. The IG investigations may result in the case being referred to the Department of Justice for further investigation and possible prosecution or forwarded to others within the agency for possible administrative action (e.g., a reprimand or dismissal in cases involving current employees)”. No uniform, formal referral process has developed in federal agencies, and cases may be referred to one of the ninety-four U.S. attorneys’ offices.
Prosecutorial enforcement: “The process by which the Public Integrity Section [of the Jus- tice Department] and the U.S. Attorney’s Office investigate and prosecute a conflict of interest case is . . . the same as any other criminal investigation or prosecution.
