White House taps new acting ethics chief, elevating general counsel over chief of staff

[Shell_Seas]

Source: Washington Post

The White House has tapped David J. Apol, general counsel of the Office of Government Ethics, to serve as the agency's acting director and temporarily succeed Walter M. Shaub Jr., who in the last six months of his tenure emerged as an outspoken critic of Trump administration.

Apol, who has been OGE's general counsel since 2014, previously served as a counsel at the U.S. Trade Representative and in the Clinton White House. He will run the agency until President Trump nominates a permanent director, who will have to be confirmed by the Senate.

In selecting Apol, the White House elevated him over Shaub's chief of staff and designated successor, Shelley K. Finlayson, who had been serving in that role since Shaub stepped down Tuesday.

The move was viewed with concern by some government watchdog groups, who questioned why the administration did not leave Finlayson in place while it searched for a permanent director.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/07/21/white-house-taps-new-acting-ethics-chief-elevating-general-counsel-over-chief-of-staff/?utm_term=.330e587b0f51

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Where does this end??

[Jim__]

1. Shaub warned us to keep an eye out for this - I think it was on Rachel last night.

He said Finlayson should remain in that position until a permanent replacement is found. If not, he said, there is some nefarious reason for it.

[MBS]

3. " " " "

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Yes - he most certainly did

I think it was Wednesday night though - right?

[Jim__]

5. I'm sure you're right - I don't remember the night.

But I do remember his warning.

[riversedge]

2. ......The move was viewed with concern by some government watchdog groups, who questioned why the ad

................The move was viewed with concern by some government watchdog groups, who questioned why the administration did not leave Finlayson in place while it searched for a permanent director.

“Clearly, she is absolutely qualified,” said Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project On Government Oversight. “Why would they make the effort to shuffle the succession plan and put her subordinate in charge? There is no good reason for them to have done this.”

Shaub on Friday called Apol a “smart attorney,” but said he is concerned that his former colleague will bring a more permissive reading of federal ethics rules to the post.

When they worked together, “we balanced out one another’s views,” said Shaub, now senior director of ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, a legal watchdog group. “But I’m concerned that the White House may be trying to ensure looser oversight.”

White House officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.