Ex-Im Bank Official Subpoenaed to Testify Next Week

Committee seeks answers from official cited for corruption

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., today subpoenaed Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im) official Johnny Gutierrez to testify before the Oversight Subcommittee on Economic Growth on Tuesday, July 29, 2014, at 10:00am. The hearing, titled “Examining Allegations of Corruption at the Export-Import Bank,” will examine recent allegations of corruption at the bank and will evaluate the bank’s ethics programs and operational transparency. The subpoena comes as a result of Mr. Gutierrez’s refusal to appear voluntarily.

“The recently reported allegations against Mr. Gutierrez are extremely serious and shake the very core of the taxpayer funded Ex-Im Bank,” said Chairman Issa on the issuance of the subpoena. “Congress needs to know exactly what occurred in this corruption scheme and will learn from both Mr. Gutierrez and EX-IM Bank Chairman Hochberg what actions the bank is taking to ensure that the organization will eradicate this culture of corruption.”

The subpoena requires Gutierrez’s appearance and testimony before the Committee on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at 10:00am in room 2154 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

Background:

 The Export-Import Bank provides loan guarantees, direct loans, and export credit insurance to private companies seeking export financing.  In recent years, the Bank has been at the center of several high-profile corruption investigations.  On June 23, 2014, The Wall Street Journal reported that in recent months the Bank has suspended or removed two officials accused of accepting gifts and kickbacks from companies seeking export financing.  One of these employees, an official with significant responsibility over decisions to award taxpayer-backed export assistance, is accused of accepting cash payments from an applicant company. Two more officials have been accused of improperly awarding contracts to favored companies.