Lawyer2Lawyer podcastMembers of Congress and their staffers who travel at the expense of private organizations must follow a long list of legal restrictions and requirements.  However, a little-known law, the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, allows the same federal employees to travel with virtually no accountability and very little transparency.

In his recent report, Law Shrouds Details of Congressional Trips Abroad, ProPublica.org reporter Justin Elliott revealed details about how this law works and who it benefits. On this week’s legal-affairs podcast Lawyer2Lawyer, Elliott joins us to discuss his article. Also joining us is Washington University Law Professor Kathleen Clark, a leading scholar in government ethics, whistleblowing, national security law and legal ethics.

Listen to the stream of this week’s show or download the MP3 file.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.