Reading Room Document

Payment of Legal Fees in Connection With a Cabinet Member's Confirmation Hearings

Legal expenses incurred in connection with a Cabinet member's Senate confirmation hearings would be an appropriate subject of payment from funds authorized under the Presidential Transition Act, and may also, consistent with that Act, be paid from private sources. Payment of legal fees incurred in connection with the confirmation process by a private foundation would not be considered to supplement a Cabinet member's salary in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 209, since the purpose and value of the services rendered were directed primarily to the government. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at www.justice.gov/file/22636/download.

May 13, 1981