Robert Walker Comments on Sen. Kirk's Support for Coin Bills

Robert L. Walker, former chief counsel to the House and Senate ethics committees and an attorney in Wiley Rein's Election Law & Government Ethics Practice, was quoted in a Wall Street Journal article on Sen. Mark Kirk’s (R – Il.) support for legislation authorizing a collectible coin that generated $2.5 million for an organization that hired his former girlfriend to lobby for the bill.

The Journal reported that Sen. Kirk “served as a co-sponsor on 26 bills authorizing commemorative coins through the U.S. Treasury Department. At least two of those bills were for clients of Arcadian Partners, which has employed his former girlfriend, Dodie McCracken.”

"If it were a spouse, it would be a much more direct and serious rules issue because the income could be attributable to him," said Mr. Walker.  “Based on what is out there now, it doesn't look like a slam dunk ethics rules violation.”