Oversight and Investigations: What it Means and How to Make it Work

Presenters:

• Pablo Carrillo, Of Counsel, Squire Patton Boggs. Pablo serves as the firm’s lead on congressional oversight and investigations (O&I), as well as in its defense public policy team. Before arriving at the firm, Pablo served as Chief of Staff to US Senator John McCain, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee and former US presidential candidate. In that capacity, he was responsible for the development and implementation of the Senator’s legislative and congressional oversight strategy. Pablo also served as Minority General Counsel of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he advised the Ranking Member and other Republican Senators on the defense authorization bill and the Minority’s O&I activities, particularly on defense acquisition and contracting policy and management issues.

• Dave Rapallo, Associate Professor of Law; Director of the Federal Legislation Clinic, Georgetown Law. Dave Rapallo joined the faculty as Clinic Director after spending 23 years in high-level positions in Congress and the White House. For the past decade, Dave served as Staff Director of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform under then-Chairman Elijah E. Cummings and Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney. He supervised a team of more than 70 attorneys, investigators, legislative experts, and communications staff, as well as the Committee’s five subcommittees, and oversaw a broad range of legislative efforts. During President Barack Obama’s first term, Dave served as Senior Director and Counsel for Legislative Oversight at the National Security Council, working directly with the offices of the Chief of Staff, White House Counsel, and Legislative Affairs. Dave previously served as General Counsel on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and as Chief Investigative Counsel on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform under then-Chairman Henry A. Waxman. Dave has served on or advised several special committees, including those investigating the events of Hurricane Katrina, the attacks in Benghazi, and the coronavirus pandemic, and he served on the House of Representatives’ team during the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

The session was moderated by Tim Stretton, former Director of POGO's Congressional Oversight Initiative.

Training Resources:

• POGO Handbook: The Art of Congressional Oversight, A congressional oversight handbook to help improve the quality of oversight activities on the Hill.
• Congressional Oversight Workbook, Supplemental to the Art of Congressional Oversight Handbook, this workbook provides templates and tips that guides investigators through the steps of an oversight investigation.