Top Officials Ignore Ethics Law, Cox Tells Congressional Panel

Former Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox told members of Congress on Tuesday that no one in authority pays attention to ethics laws.

Cox testified before a Governmental Affairs subcommittee marking the 10th anniversary of the 1978 Ethics in Government Act, which prohibits lobbying by certain former Administration officials for one year after they leave government.

He said the fault with ethics in government lies with the people, not necessarily the law.

“Where there has been failure is in want of leadership . . . and speaking out about violators,” said Cox, who is president of the citizen rights group Common Cause. “I think the law has been adequate. Certainly no one in authority or in a leadership position pays much, if any, attention to it. But it’s important that it be there.”