Prof. Painter Quoted in Washington Post on Google and Alleged Illegal Online Drug Sales

Professor Richard Painter was quoted in a Washington Post article about ongoing federal and state investigations of Google's involvement with illegal online drug sales. The story reported that Google was invited to a White House forum on the same topic at the same time as federal prosecutors were investigating and charging Google for the alleged conduct. Painter, who was ethics counsel at the White House during the George W. Bush administration, expressed surprise that Google was allowed to participate in the White House forum. "We absolutely would not have permitted it," Painter, said. Painter added that he would not have been concerned about Google officials attending other White House events, "but not an event on a topic for which the company was under active investigation."