NCUA Creates Ethics Office in Wake of Agency Scandal
The new office is approved by the agency board at its closed meeting on March 19.
In the wake of a scandal that enveloped the agency’s general counsel’s office, the NCUA Wednesday announced the creation of a new Office of Ethics Counsel.
The office will include a chief ethics counsel, who will report directly to the NCUA board and will be supervised by Chairman Rodney Hood.
The new office was approved by the agency board at its closed meeting on March 19.
In announcing the new position, agency officials said the office will certify the NCUA’s compliance with federal ethics laws and rules, and promote accountability and ethical conduct.
The announcement followed a March report by the agency’s Inspector General, who said former NCUA General Counsel Michael McKenna and his deputy, Lara Daly-Sims, had visited strip clubs, and consumed alcohol and possibly marijuana, while on government time.
In the report, Daly-Sims said she felt coerced by McKenna, who at the time was the agency’s designated ethics officer. McKenna has retired from the agency and Daly-Sims now works for a private law firm.