CHARGES FOR HAMPTON IN ENSIGN-RELATED MATTER. Roll Call reports. “Former Senate aide Doug Hampton has been indicted on charges that he violated conflict of interest laws — over allegations that he contacted his former boss, Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), in violation of the chamber’s ‘revolving door’ rules — the Justice Department announced Thursday.” The DOJ press release is available here. “According to the indictment, between May 1, 2008, and May 1, 2009, while he was subject to The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act’s one-year restriction, Hampton knowingly and willfully made, with the intent to influence, communications to staff members of the U.S. senator on behalf of the Las Vegas airline company and energy company, seeking action by the senator and the staff members in their official capacities.”
WHEN STAFFERS SOLICIT, WHO MAKES THE CALL? Roll Call reports. “Senate chiefs of staff this week are soliciting K Street for their annual spring fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Only problem is: Some of the chiefs aren’t making the ask themselves — a move that has discouraged many lobbyists from giving. . . . ‘I think the idea that the staff is involved in fundraising or certainly attending political events on their own time is inherent in the job,’ said Ken Gross, an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. ‘If somebody who is an important staffer asks for money, on their own time, it’s not much different than the candidate themselves dialing for dollars,’ Gross added.”
PROSECUTING BRIBERY ABROAD. The Post has an overview of FCPA prosecutions over the last few years here. “In recent years, the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission have filed an increasing number of foreign corruption cases, charging companies such as Tyson Foods, General Electric, Alcatel-Lucent and Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz cars and the former parent of Chrysler.”
SPORTS AND LOBBYING. “Congress has devised its own form of March Madness, using the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and other spring sports events as popular fundraisers.” Story here.
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY LOBBYING. The Times.
AT&T LOBBYING. The Post.
GOV. PERRY FINED. News here.
SUV INVESTIGATION IN DC. MyFoxDC has the story here “Another SUV is being questioned at City Hall. This time, it is the one that is driven by D.C. Council Member Harry Thomas, Jr.”
HASEN MOVES. I join those with best wishes for Professor Rick Hasen on the announcement that he will be joining the law school at University of California at Irvine.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.