2025 Investigative Summary 5

Investigation of Alleged Failure to Comply with Policy on Notification of Romantic or Intimate Relationships and Alleged Lack of Candor

OPR learned of allegations that a supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) engaged in an undisclosed romantic or intimate relationship with a subordinate AUSA.  When questioned by U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) senior managers, the supervisory AUSA denied being involved in a romantic or intimate relationship with the subordinate AUSA; similarly, when interviewed by OPR as part of its investigation, the by then former supervisory AUSA denied having a romantic or intimate relationship with the subordinate AUSA during the time she was a supervisor.

Based on its investigation, OPR determined that preponderant evidence supported a finding that the supervisory AUSA engaged in a romantic or intimate relationship with the subordinate AUSA during the time that she was a supervisor and failed to disclose the relationship to managers.  Accordingly, OPR concluded that the supervisory AUSA committed intentional professional misconduct (1) in violation of United States Attorneys’ policy requiring disclosure to USAO management of romantic or intimate relationships between supervisors and subordinates; and (2) in violation of the applicable rule of professional conduct by engaging in conduct involving dishonesty or misrepresentation that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s fitness to practice law.  OPR referred its findings to the Professional Misconduct Review Unit.