Zinke could face months-long Justice investigation

 Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke could be facing a months-long investigation by the Department of Justice now that his agency’s internal watchdog has referred one of its probes to the DOJ. The investigation, which is expected to focus on a personal real estate deal Zinke made with Halliburton Co. Chairman David Lesar, according to The New York Times, sets the stage for a comprehensive review of the former Montana lawmaker’s business ties. Interior’s Office of the Inspector General (IG) referred one of its investigations into Zinke to the DOJ more than two weeks ago. The specific nature of the investigation into Zinke has not been made public, and DOJ is not commenting on the matter. Public integrity law experts said that if the probe ends up focusing on business transactions, that would likely involve criminal conflict-of-interest statutes that prohibit federal employees from participating “personally and substantially” in decisions in which they or a relative have a financial interest. “The conflict-of-interest statute requires a very high level of criminal intent,” said one attorney who formerly worked in DOJ’s Public Integrity Section, the office that generally deals with federal ethics cases. “You have to prove that he knew he was violating the law.” Violators of the conflict-of-interest law can face up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine per violation...MORE