[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 28, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 28CFR45.2]

[Page 12-13]
 
                    TITLE 28--JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION
 
              CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Continued)
 
PART 45--EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITIES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 45.2  Disqualification arising from personal or political relationship.

    (a) Unless authorized under paragraph (b) of this section, no 
employee shall participate in a criminal investigation or prosecution if 
he has a personal or political relationship with:

[[Page 13]]

    (1) Any person or organization substantially involved in the conduct 
that is the subject of the investigation or prosecution; or
    (2) Any person or organization which he knows has a specific and 
substantial interest that would be directly affected by the outcome of 
the investigation or prosecution.
    (b) An employee assigned to or otherwise participating in a criminal 
investigation or prosecution who believes that his participation may be 
prohibited by paragraph (a) of this section shall report the matter and 
all attendant facts and circumstances to his supervisor at the level of 
section chief or the equivalent or higher. If the supervisor determines 
that a personal or political relationship exists between the employee 
and a person or organization described in paragraph (a) of this section, 
he shall relieve the employee from participation unless he determines 
further, in writing, after full consideration of all the facts and 
circumstances, that:
    (1) The relationship will not have the effect of rendering the 
employee's service less than fully impartial and professional; and
    (2) The employee's participation would not create an appearance of a 
conflict of interest likely to affect the public perception of the 
integrity of the investigation or prosecution.
    (c) For the purposes of this section:
    (1) Political relationship means a close identification with an 
elected official, a candidate (whether or not successful) for elective, 
public office, a political party, or a campaign organization, arising 
from service as a principal adviser thereto or a principal official 
thereof; and
    (2) Personal relationship means a close and substantial connection 
of the type normally viewed as likely to induce partiality. An employee 
is presumed to have a personal relationship with his father, mother, 
brother, sister, child and spouse. Whether relationships (including 
friendships) of an employee to other persons or organizations are 
``personal'' must be judged on an individual basis with due regard given 
to the subjective opinion of the employee.
    (d) This section pertains to agency management and is not intended 
to create rights enforceable by private individuals or organizations.

[Order No. 993-83, 48 FR 2319, Jan. 19, 1983. Redesignated at 61 FR 
59815, Nov. 25, 1996]