Investigation Finds No Evidence of Ethical Violations by Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Employees

Our investigation of allegations against an official at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) did not find any evidence that she used her public office for private gain. Someone purporting to be a senior vice president in the energy industry alleged that the BOEM official had been pressuring energy companies into hiring her husband as a geologist, and also that she and her supervisor created problems for companies who did not offer work to her husband. 

 

We interviewed two BOEM employees who the complaint alleged knew about the coercion, and neither had any evidence to substantiate the allegations. We contacted the senior vice president named in the complaint, and he told us that he did not submit a complaint and did not know anything about the allegations. Additionally, we reviewed Government email records but did not find any information to corroborate the allegations.

 

This is a summary of an investigative report that was issued to BOEM for informational purposes only.