It may begin with an unusual media inquiry or a sudden spike in interest on social media. Just as often, it starts with a non-public request for documents or other evidence. Your boss or your staff have been accused of wrongdoing, and it falls to you to lead the response.
In recent months, Members of Congress and their staff have faced an unprecedented array of investigative threats, alongside significant departures from the traditional ways in which such investigations are conducted. And in recent years, several Members of Congress have been investigated, charged, and in some cases convicted. Aggressive investigators targeting Members and their staff can derail a campaign or disrupt an office’s legislative agenda. Indeed, even where there is no actual evidence of wrongdoing, an investigation itself can quickly become an overwhelming distraction for any office. With the 2026 midterms on the horizon, the possibility of—and risks associated with—investigations targeting Members and their staff will continue to rise.
In this highly-politicized environment, taking the right steps in the first hours and days after an inquiry begins can mean the difference between a swift (ideally, non-public) resolution and a years-long crisis. Much the same, where an inquiry does become widely known, an office’s public messaging can significantly affect the course and outcome of an investigation. With a Member’s senior staff often responsible for directing the office’s initial response, it is more important than ever for Chiefs of Staff and other senior staffers to be prepared before an investigation begins.
In this alert, we outline “best practices” to help Chiefs navigate their way through the opening stages of an investigation, including tips to avoid common mistakes that too often make an investigation more damaging than it might have otherwise been.