Other State Department Archive Sites

The State Department web site below is a permanent electronic archive of information released online from January 1, 1997 to January 20, 2001. Please see www.state.gov for current material from the Department of State. Or visit http://2001-2009.state.gov for information from that period. Archive sites are not updated, so external links may no longer function. Contact us with any questions about finding information. NOTE: External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.

U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
April 29, 1999

Former State Department Employee Pleads Guilty
To Conflict-of-Interest Charge

On Monday, April 19, 1999, a former Department of State employee pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge, for participating personally as a federal employee in a business matter in which he and his outside employer had a financial interest. The case was handled by the Department of State’s Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice, Public Integrity Section. The one count information was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

According to court documents, in 1998 Matthew E.A. Lorin of New York City, was a special government employee of the State Department as a Special Coordinator for the Public and Private Partnerships for the President’s 2010 Initiative of Demining, in the Office of Humanitarian Demining. His duties included coordination of the State Department’s efforts to facilitate the removal of land and sea mines worldwide, including demining by private entities.

During the same time period, Lorin received payments totaling $20,000 from Americas Partners, a private, for-profit business, which was participating in a joint venture to develop a theme park, known as the Grand Oasis, in Israel and Jordan. Construction of the Grand Oasis required mine clearing operations, and Americas Partners provided Lorin with a one percent equity interest in the project.

In September 1998, Lorin telephoned the State Department’s Special Middle East Coordinator, identified himself as a State Department employee, described the Grand Oasis project, and recommended that State support it. Lorin then sent a memorandum to the Special Middle East Coordinator recommending the project and seeking Department of State support.

According to the plea agreement, Lorin has admitted his offense and has agreed to pay a fine of $20,000. Lorin is scheduled for sentencing July 7, 1999.

[end of document]