Subject: Re: ethics lawyer
From: "Cassandra Butts" <[email-masked]>
To: "John Podesta" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:51:48 -0400

Yes, we shouldn't have a problem recruiting a handful of lawyers who know
ethics to work with us in a voluntary capacity.

On the policy groups, things are moving forward with the health group and
Daschle, Jeanne, and Chris. Your conversation with Daschle was very helpful,
and Chris isn't objecting to Daschle and Jeanne making the call on working
group participants. Unfortunately, we can't use Talisman because his firm
has two health cients -- UnitedHealth Group and Federation of American
Hospitals -- that present conflicts.

Also, we are making good progress on the personnel side, and Christine
Varney has been a great addition to process. While I was hoping to bring in
Broderick Johnson as a member of the working group, Froman was resistant
because of concerns about his lobbyist status. While I don't think our
ethics code presents a bar to his participation as a member of the working
group, we will work with Broderick, Maria Echaveste and Preeta Bansal to
help us identify strong candidates of color and candidates outside of the
beltway. We're also using Preeta for the immigration working group.

It would be helpful to have a conversation with you, Michael, and Federico
soon about managing the process on priority White House personnel choices,
which we will manage apart from the working group structure, and how those
positions fit within your thinking on White House reorganization.

Finally, please keep me in the loop in your thinking on these and other
issues that I can be helpful on in moving the transition forward. With my
full-time work begining on Monday, I'd like to be as fully engaged as
possible.

Thanks,
Cassandra

On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 2:45 PM, John Podesta <[email-masked]>wrote:

> Yes, I think we'll need a couple of hopefully volunteer lawyers who
> know ethics and conflict laws to answer specific q's about the people
> working on the transition. After November we will need a cadre in
> house to do same with personnel.
>
>
>
> On 8/14/08, Cassandra Butts <[email-masked]> wrote:
> > John,
> >
> > Following up on our Friday conversation about finding an ethics lawyer to
> > work with the transition, I've identified at least one person and am
> waiting
> > for feedback on another. The feedback aspect has been more challenging
> > because of vacations. I should have something definitive to share with
> you
> > no later than Monday. Related, how do you envision the person working
> with
> > Bob Bauer? Do you see the person's role focusing on vetting volunteers
> and
> > others working with the transition?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Cassandra
> >
>
> --
> Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com
>