The first thing to be said about the cloud hanging over Mike Espy is that the U.S. Agriculture Secretary has not even been formally charged with violations of the law or ethical standards, let alone convicted.
The second thing is that his admitted acceptance of plane rides, sports tickets, lodging and meals from companies his department regulates is a fairly minor offense compared to the scandals that have rocked Washington in recent years.Even so, the bad judgment Espy has displayed and double standard he has embraced still provide an example for other federal officials in how not to conduct themselves. His departure would spare both himself and the White House further embarrassment.
As it is now, Espy faces the rare ignominy of being subjected to both a criminal investigation and an ethics probe at the same time.
If a USDA meat inspector had taken football tickets from a chicken processing firm as Espy did, that inspector would be fired. It doesn't matter that Espy reimbursed the firm; he did so only under pressure. Besides, Espy's conduct is the sort of shabby practice the Clinton administration promised to clean up when it took office.
Nor does it matter that Espy has plenty of company. Members of Congress regularly accept the kind of favors Espy did. But the lawmakers operate under a different set of rules than do members of the executive branch of government. Besides, the congressional rules are much too lax and really ought to be tightened as President Clinton has now belatedly done for the executive branch by declaring that political appointees may no longer accept gifts or trips from firms they regulate even if they later reimburse the companies.
Someone as experienced as ex-Congressman Espy ought to know that prominent government leaders need the confidence of the public they serve in order to do their jobs effectively. Even a hint of scandal can erode that confidence. Consequently, they must avoid not only wrongdoing itself but even its appearance.
How many more Espy-type flaps must there be before this nation's public servants learn this simple but essential lesson in how to conduct themselves?