Prof. Painter Quoted in OpenSecrets.org Article on Senator Warner's Relationship with BlackRock Investment Firm

Professor Richard Painter was quoted in an OpenSecrets.org article on campaign contributions by BlackRock to Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), who also invests a substantial amount of his own money with BlackRock. Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, noted that Senator Warner's relationship with BlackRock illustrates how loose the conflict-of-interest restrictions are for members of Congress, because Warner could have a hand in crafting "legislation that has a direct and predictable impact on BlackRock...without violating any of the statutes, any of the House, any of the Senate rules." Painter noted that the rules are much stricter for appointed executive branch officials who must sever financial ties with firms they regulate.