Caroline Lian, the former Deputy Director of D.C.’s Department of Buildings, has recently found herself at the center of an ethics scandal that has led to her resignation and a hefty fine of $25,000. The probe conducted by the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability revealed that Lian was holding not one, but two full-time six-figure paying jobs simultaneously, in addition to a part-time position on the Falls Church City Council.
Lian began her tenure at the Department of Buildings in October 2022, starting as the chief operations officer with a salary of $149,750 per year. Within a year, she was promoted to the position of deputy director, which came with a raise, bringing her annual salary to $175,000. Despite her high-ranking position at the DOB, Lian was also employed as a third-party risk management director at Freddie Mac since July 2015, earning another six-figure salary. This dual employment arrangement allowed her to work from home for both jobs on alternating days.
The ethics probe further revealed that Lian failed to disclose her second job at Freddie Mac in her required public financial disclosure statements for 2022 and 2023. These statements mandated the disclosure of any outside employment that generated more than $200 in income, a requirement that Lian did not adhere to. Additionally, while Lian did disclose her part-time position on the Falls Church City Council, she inaccurately reported her time off for council meetings and underreported her income from the council in 2022.
As a result of these violations, the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability determined that Lian had breached the code of conduct in four ways. In response, Lian agreed to pay a fine of $25,000 to the district. The terms of the settlement stipulated that she would pay a lump sum of $17,000 by a specified date and attend ethics training. However, Lian ultimately resigned from her position, and the full fine will be deducted from her final district government paycheck or compensation for unused annual leave.
In light of these revelations, Lian also resigned from her seat on the Falls Church City Council. The city issued a statement acknowledging the findings of the ethics probe and indicating that the matter had been referred to the Commonwealth’s Attorney for investigation. The resignation marks the culmination of a scandal that has brought to light the ethical lapses of a public official holding multiple high-paying positions simultaneously.
The case of Caroline Lian serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of transparency and integrity in public service. It underscores the need for stringent oversight and accountability measures to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that those in positions of authority uphold the highest ethical standards. As the fallout from this scandal continues to unfold, it serves as a reminder of the consequences that can arise when individuals prioritize personal gain over their duty to serve the public good.
