New rules target House witnesses

New rules target House witnesses

January 15, 2015, The Hill

Covington's Rob Kelner is quoted in this article regarding new rules that state that witnesses who testify before House panels will have to disclose whether they have been paid by foreign governments:

"The new language requires witnesses to disclose money stemming from a foreign government only if the grant or payment is “related to the subject matter of the hearing,” prompting concern from lawyers — and Speier — that that criteria would be too narrow." 

“There are going to be many foreign government grants that are not explicitly tied to particular subject matter,” said Robert Kelner, the chairman of Covington & Burling’s election and political law practice. “There may be some differences in opinion in whether a particular grant relates to the subject matter of the hearing.”