What is a conflict of interest?

A conflict of interest occurs when one’s personal interests could compromise one’s judgment, decisions, or actions in a workplace. For example, if a business owner becomes involved in the regulatory process of the industry they directly benefit from, this is an ethical issue: a conflict of interest.

Why is this important? When we look at the state of politics in the United States, we see a growing trend of politicians on both ends of the aisle involved in the most egregious conflicts of interest. This begs the question of how one’s wealth and power redefine the government.

Truth Beat is designed to show readers where these issues arise and why they are important. We will break down the examples of these ethical issues and disseminate what we know and learn from particular examples in government. This will not be limited to the government because the precedent has followed a trend of politicians continuing leadership in their businesses while serving in politically appointed positions.