Conflict of interest rules prohibit a former employee from doing business with the board for one year after leaving.

The contacts are under investigation because they could possibly violate the conflict of interest rules.

The interest rules are certainly one of them.

Corral wrote that the three had been fired for violating conflict of interest rules.

Local media outlets reported he may have violated conflict of interest rules by accepting gifts from record companies.

The Enron board's special panel called the transaction "particularly troubling" and a violation of the company's conflict of interest rules.

Many of those officials sold their shares before Enron collapsed, in most cases because they were required to do so under federal conflict of interest rules.

However, at another point in the interview Mr. Gray said he had complied with applicable conflict of interest rules.

Conflict of interest rules are intended to prevent officials from making decisions in circumstances that could reasonably be perceived as violating this duty of office.

If Mr. Wright presses ahead, the committee owes him a more precise interpretation of the "direct interest" rule.