[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR0.735-5]

[Page 6]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
PART 0--EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT--Table of Contents
 
                        Subpart B--General Policy
 
Sec. 0.735-5  General principles.


    Apart from statute, there are certain principles of fair dealing 
which have the force of law and which are applicable to all officers of 
the Government. A public office is a public trust. No public officer can 
lawfully engage in business activities which are incompatible with the 
duties of his office. He cannot, in his private or official character, 
enter into engagements in which he has, or can have, a conflicting 
personal interest. He cannot allow his public duties to be neglected by 
reason of attention to his private affairs. Such conflicts of interest 
are not tolerated in the case of any private fiduciary, and they are 
doubly proscribed for a public trustee. (40 Ops. Atty. Gen. 187, 190.)