Questioning whether former Deputy Energy Secretary Dan Poneman has complied with ethics guidelines and federal conflict of interest laws, lawmakers on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee this week launched a probe into Poneman’s recent appointment to CEO of Centrus Energy Corp. Last month the uranium enrichment firm, which under its previous name USEC received considerable support from the Department of Energy, announced Poneman would serve as its new CEO and president. “Given Mr. Poneman’s involvement in the numerous dealings between DOE and USEC since 2009, we are concerned that he may have violated post-employment laws for federal personnel, including restrictions that require senior government officials to report when they are seeking private employment, and to recuse themselves from matters with a direct effect on the financial interests of that potential private employer,” states a March 30 letter to DOE and Centrus from Committee Chair Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Subcommittee on the Interior Chair Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).
Poneman stepped down from his DOE post last October, but during his tenure he “was substantially involved in business arrangements between DOE and Centrus Energy,” the letter states. “Mr. Poneman’s work relating to Centrus Energy and its predecessor in interest, the United States Enrichment Corporation, raises questions about whether he complied with ethics guidelines and federal conflict of interest laws that cover government employees who are seeking private employment.” The lawmakers have requested by April 10 all documents and correspondence between Poneman and Centrus during his five-year stint at DOE, as well as documents and communications from other DOE employees related to “employment opportunities for Daniel Poneman at USEC or Centrus Energy.”
Centrus plans to respond to the request, spokesman Jeremy Derryberry said in a written response yesterday. “At no time during his employment with the Department of Energy did anyone affiliated with Centrus contact Mr. Poneman to discuss future employment opportunities,” Derryberry said. “The first communications with Mr. Poneman about this opportunity occurred after he left the Department. At all times, Mr. Poneman and the company have fully complied with all applicable post-employment restrictions and government ethics requirements and will continue to do so in the future.”
