I'd like to see the legal analysis of government ethics issues that presumably preceded this solicitation. A few additional thoughts about this: 1) Is it clear that Secretary Sebelius was acting in her personal -- rather than official -- capacity? 2) This incident may illustrate the sometimes obscure concern that motivated Congress to criminalize salary supplementation (18 USC 209). Congress wants to control -- through appropriations -- what executive branch agencies do. Allowing agencies to solicit additional funds from private sources undermines Congressional control over executive branch agencies. 3) Does HHS have the authority to accept gifts? If so, would that be a legal route to accomplishing her goals?

What might not be obvious from these videos -- but became clear from Adam Reposa's presentation at the APRL conference -- is that Adam Reposa is a cause lawyer. ("a cause lawyer is one who works out of the professional mainstream . . . engaging in moral activism for marginalized clients" http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/lpbr/subpages/reviews/sarasche.htm)

If you're interested in reading more about Matt Diaz, check out my analysis of Diaz and other government lawyer-whistleblowers in Confidentiality Norms and Government Lawyers, 85 WASH. U.L. REV. 1033 (2007) (papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1154245).