He became the bureau's director of enforcement in January 2012.

They were playing the director of enforcement, his staff of investigators, the news media who kept it all going.

James Coffman, the assistant director of enforcement for the commission, declined to comment.

"I don't think anyone is walking away from anything here," said Paul Berger, an assistant director of enforcement for the commission.

In the 1990's, he became director of criminal enforcement at the Environmental Protection Agency.

"I guess some people feel they have nothing to lose by ignoring the law," said Mark Silberman, the commission's director of enforcement.

Some wonder whether a veteran commission staff member, like Steven Cutler, the director of enforcement, might have a chance.

Jerome Ross, the director of enforcement, conceded that the bureau "does not have the manpower to respond to everything."

Ms. Thomsen, 50, has been deputy director of enforcement since January 2002.

The commission's enforcement director called Gaffey's record keeping "disastrous".