For young chief of staff, a close tie to the boss (Maxine Water's grandson nepotism exemption)

Washington Post ^ | May 3, 2010 | Michael Leahy

[Second Amendment First]

Mikael Moore, the 31-year-old chief of staff for Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), went to work for her six years ago as a bottom-rung staff assistant. He rose to become her scheduler, communications director and, finally, 2 1/2 years ago, found himself to be a logical candidate to take over as the office's chief of staff.

* What few people outside Waters's office knew was that Moore is her grandson. *

Over the years, many congressional members and key officials in the executive branch have hired family members or helped them land jobs in government.

[Second Amendment First]

From Politico:

Maxine Waters' grandson exemption

The Washington Post on Monday published lengthy profile of Mikael Moore, Rep. Maxine Waters’ (D-Calif.) chief of staff -- noting that he also just happens to be the congresswoman's grandson.

Generally, hiring one’s relative is illegal. Among the 27 relative designations listed in the federal law regarding nepotism and hiring, however, "grandson" is not mentioned.

So Moore, who makes a six-figure salary working for his grandmother, is just fine, ethics-wise, according to an ethics lawyer contacted by POLITICO. 

The text from the House ethics manual:

Federal law, at 5 U.S.C. § 3110, generally prohibits a federal official, including a Member of Congress, from appointing, promoting, or recommending for appointment or promotion any ?relative of the official to any agency or department over which the official exercises authority or control. The statute defines a relative, for these purposes, as: an individual who is related to the public official as father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half sister. 

[Venturer]

Gee They conveniently left out Grandson, now wasnt that just a coincidence.?

LMAO this is really funny, because if he needed a job any one of her lobbyist friends would have found him one.

Nepotism is rife on the Hill as well as Hollywood.

Two places where liberals let anything ride. Dont think for a minute that Republicans dont do the same thing.

[Anti-Bubba182]

"..LMAO this is really funny, because if he needed a job any one of her lobbyist friends would have found him one..."

That is more usual. Maxine is so safe politically she can be more brazen.