United States v. Fumo (504 F. Supp. 2d 6, 2007)

Memorandum and Order

YOHN, District Judge.

The United States filed a motion requesting a hearing regarding possible conflicts of interest faced by the attorneys representing Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent J. Fumo. The court held an evi-dentiary hearing on June 25 and 26, 2007 to adduce evidence related to possible conflicts, and heard oral argument on July 10, 2007. The government then moved to disqualify Fumo’s counsel. For the reasons stated herein, the government’s motion to disqualify will be denied, subject to Fumo’s adequate waiver of the conflicts of interest faced by his attorneys.

I. Procedural History

The government issued a superseding indictment on February 6, 2007, charging defendants Fumo, Ruth Arnao, Leonard Luchko and Mark Eister. Fumo was charged in connection with four areas of wrongdoing: (1) fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud related to the State Senate of Pennsylvania (“Senate”); (2) fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to obstruct the Internal Revenue Service, and aiding and abetting in the filing of false tax returns, related to Citizens Alliance for Better Neighborhoods (“Citizens Alliance”); (3) fraud related to the Independence Seaport Museum (“ISM”); and (4) obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. On April 4, 2007, the government filed a motion requesting a hearing regarding possible conflicts of interest faced by the attorneys currently representing Fumo: Richard A. Sprague, Mark B. Sheppard and Geoffrey R. Johnson, of the law firm of Sprague & Sprague (“the Sprague firm”). In his response, Fumo contested the government’s factual allegations, but did not oppose such a hearing. The government filed a reply.

In an effort to define and narrow the contested factual issues related to possible conflicts, and because Fumo’s brief did not directly respond to the government’s factual allegations, I directed Fumo to file a supplemental response either agreeing or disagreeing with each of the government’s factual assertions. Thereafter, I held an evidentiary hearing to determine what evidence the government would adduce at trial bearing on possible conflicts of interest faced by Fumo’s counsel. The government presented four witnesses and entered into the record approximately forty documents. The government’s witnesses included Jeh Johnson, an attorney from New York who had occasion to deal with attorneys from the Sprague firm related to this investigation; Jeff Travelina and John Sfrisi, two Citizens Alliance board members; and Special Agent Vicki Humphreys, a federal agent who investigated this case and who read into the record portions of the agent interview reports (“302s”) and grand jury testimony of other government witnesses. Fumo did not call any additional witnesses but entered into the record several documents, including declarations of witnesses who could be presented at trial.

After the hearing, I directed the government to file proposed findings of fact setting forth the allegations they substantiated at the evidentiary hearing, and to brief whether those facts adduced warranted disqualification of Fumo’s counsel or could be cured by a waiver of any conflicts of interest faced by Fumo’s counsel. I directed Fumo to submit his own findings of fact in response to the government’s submission. The parties presented oral argument on July 10, 2007. At that time, the government moved to disqualify the Sprague firm based on the evidence it had presented during the hearing, which it intended to introduce at trial. The government argued that, given the multitude of conflicts existing, a waiver from Fumo would be insufficient to cure the defect.

II. Evidence Presented

The following summarizes the evidence that the parties presented at the evidentia-ry hearing and in their papers that bears on the issue of conflicts of interest faced by attorneys from the Sprague firm. For ease of understanding, I have divided the evidence presented into substantive areas, which parallel the four sets of crimes alleged in the indictment.

A. Evidence Related to the Senate

1. The Sprague Firm’s Representation of Senate Entities

The Sprague firm was retained to represent the State Democratic Appropriations Committee (“SDAC”) and the Senate Democratic Computer Services (“SDCS”), effective February 18, 2005, which representation lasted through February 6, 2007. (Gov’t Ex. 34; Def.’s Suppl. Resp. ¶ 12.) The Sprague firm also represented the Office of Fumo and Fumo in his official capacity. (Def.’s Suppl. Resp. ¶ 12.) The Service Purchase Contract states that the Sprague firm’s legal representation of the two entities is “in connection with federal court proceedings pertaining to the seizure and recovery of property.” (Gov’t Ex. 34.) A letter attached to the Service Purchase Contract states as follows:

The services provided would include the preparation, constitutionality and legality of the seizure of such property, the providing of legal advice, research and issue analysis. The legal representation shall be on behalf of the Committee and SDCS, as direct by the Counsel of the Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee and its Chairman, Senator Vincent J. Fumo.

{Id.)

The government intends to argue that the fact that the Sprague firm represented the SDAC and the SDCS during this time has evidentiary value. (Gov’t’s Proposed Finding of Fact ¶ 11.) This is because the Sprague firm’s representation was contemporaneous with the time period during which the government alleges that Fumo and others destroyed pertinent emails and documents in order to obstruct the federal investigation. {Id. ¶ 11.) Agent Hum-phreys testified that she executed a search warrant for email evidence and served a grand jury subpoena for Fumo’s Tasker Street office, on February 18, 2005, copies of which she gave to Charlie Hoffman, Fumo’s Chief of Staff. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 126-29.) Donald Wilson, a SDCS computer technician assigned to Fumo’s Philadelphia office, testified before the grand jury that after the search warrant was executed, he and others did not immediately stop deleting email and wiping the contents of computers because no one had told them otherwise; in other words, for the next six weeks there were no changes. (Id. at 133.) On April 20, 2005, in an email to Luchko, Eister states that Sheppard told them to retain and archive all emails. (Gov’t Ex. 30; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 138.) At some point after the initial six weeks, Hoffman raised concerns about the deleting and wiping and, around July 2005, all the emails were to be backed up, burned onto a DVD, and sent to the Harrisburg server. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 135-36.)

Also during the Sprague firm’s representation of the SDAC and the SDCS, the government obtained voluminous amounts of discovery, including emails, documents and computers. (Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 111.) Additionally, there was a potential effort to reconfigure the server in Harrisburg in order to delete email prospectively; that reconfiguration was never implemented. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 49-51.) No evidence was presented implicating any member of the Sprague firm in any of the alleged wrongdoing or suggesting that they in any way knew of the destruction of documents. (Id. at 14; Tr. 7/10/07 at 16-17.)

W. Russell Faber is the Chief Clerk of the Senate. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 13; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 100.) On March 30, 2005, Faber reviewed the engagement contract for the provision of legal services by the Sprague firm to determine whether it conformed with the Financial Operating Rules of the Senate. (Def.Ex. 10.) He also reviewed billing invoices and vouchers presented for payment for conformity with the Financial Operating Rules of the Senate, prior to their submission to the Pennsylvania Treasury Department for payment. (Id.) The invoice from the Sprague firm for the final services rendered under the contract contained only services dated prior to the indictment of Fumo. (Id.) Pursuant to this contract, the Senate paid the Sprague firm approximately $1.22 million in legal fees. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 160.) Faber was not and is not represented by the Sprague firm in either his individual or official capacity. (Def. Ex. 10; Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 14; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 100.) Faber is employed by and responsible to the entire Senate, not Fumo, and he has retained his own counsel for purposes of this investigation. (Def. Ex. 10; Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 14; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 100.) The government intends to call Faber as a witness to testify regarding the standard purposes for which contractors may generally be paid by the Senate. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 13.)

The government has represented that it intends to call as witnesses members of the SDAC and the SDCS staff in order to prove allegations contained in the indictment. (Id. ¶ 10; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 159-60.) The Sprague firm did not represent any of those employees in their individual capacities. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶¶ 9-10; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶¶ 104, 107-08; Tr. 6/26/07 at 7-8 (regarding Christopher Craig and Deborah Maguire).) Nor has the Sprague firm represented the Senate as an entity. (Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact 105; Def. Ex. 10.)

The Senate, through its counsel, C. Clark Hodgson Jr., has stated that it takes no position with respect to the suggested actual or potential conflict. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 19; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 109.)

2. Fumo’s Use of Senate Employees

At the evidentiary hearing, the government produced evidence that it intends to introduce at trial suggesting that Fumo used Senate employees for improper purposes, which situations directly or tangentially involved the Sprague firm. The government produced evidence that it intends to introduce at trial that in July 2000, Fumo directed Senate-employed computer technicians to call Sprague at a London hotel in order to assist him in configuring his laptop to obtain a dial-up internet connection. (Gov’t Ex. 35.) Email communications between Fumo and the computer technicians began on Thursday, July 27, 2000, at 1:47 p.m., and continued throughout the weekend. (Id.) It was not established how long the actual assistance to Sprague lasted. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 53.)

A Senate-employed computer technician, Mike Podgorski, was directed to assist Sprague’s computer technician in setting up a wireless router at Sprague’s house. (Id. at 162.) This assistance was provided at a time when Fumo was convalescing at Sprague’s house after undergoing surgery, and the wireless router was installed for Fumo’s use. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 162; Tr. 6/26/07 at 54; Def. Ex. 13.)

Fumo requested that attorneys from the Sprague firm, Joseph McAlee and Charles Hardy, work with a Senate employee, Christopher Craig, in 2001, to resolve a business dispute with AT & T on behalf of Fumo’s girlfriend and her employer. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 164; Gov’t Ex. 36.) Attorneys from the Sprague firm then provided assistance. (Gov’t Ex. 36.)

Senate employees, referred to in the indictment as Person Number 24 and Person Number 25, delivered shirts belonging to Fumo to Sprague’s home for laundering. (Def.’s Suppl. Resp. ¶¶ 85-86.)

Frank Wallace, referred to in the indictment as Senate Contractor Number 1, was a private investigator, under contract with the Senate, who performed personal and political tasks for Fumo. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 76.) Wallace testified at the evidentiary hearing that he conducted sweeps for electronic listening devices on behalf of Fumo at Fumo’s Tasker Street office, Fumo’s farm in Harrisburg, Fumo’s home in Philadelphia, the offices of two City Council persons, Citizens Alliance’s office, and Ruth Arnao’s home. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 45^19.) At some point, Wallace voiced his concern to Hoffman about the propriety of the sweeps. (Id. at 49.) Hoffman told Wallace that Sprague said that it was, in Wallace’s words, “perfectly all right for [Wallace] to do the sweeps.” (Id. at 50.) Wallace then told Hoffman that if Sprague would put his advice in writing that Wallace would continue with the sweeps. (Id. at 50, 63.) Wallace’s belief is that all parties involved understood sweeps as including all of the locations. (Id. at 64.) Sprague’s position is that he advised that a sweep for electronic listening devices in Fumo’s office was permissible. (Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 140; Def.’s Suppl. Resp. ¶ 110.) Wallace also reported that Fumo told him that Sprague had advised that PAC money could be used to purchase more sophisticated equipment to employ in the sweeps. (Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 140; Def.’s Suppl. Resp. ¶ 110.)

Wallace retained counsel in connection with a grand jury subpoena that was issued to him. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 52.) Wallace spoke with Sheppard regarding Wallace’s choice of counsel, at which time Sheppard suggested Wallace retain William DeStefano, who was already familiar with the investigation. (Id. at 57; Def.’s Suppl. Resp. ¶ 111.) Wallace understood that Sheppard wanted Wallace to be a part of the mutual defense agreement already in existence between potential targets of the investigation. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 54.) Wallace told Sheppard that Wallace preferred his own attorney, Frank DiSimone. (Id. at 54, 57-58.) Hoffman informed Wallace that although the standard practice of the Senate was to pay attorney fees for a Senate employee in connection with an investigation concerning Senate duties pri- or to any indictment, it could not do so in his case because he was an independent contractor, not an employee. (Id. at 53.)

B. Evidence Related to the ISM

1. Fumo’s Use of and Payment for Yacht

Evidence that the government intends to present at trial suggests that the Sprague firm played a role in Fumo’s reimbursement of the ISM for a chartered yacht. In 2001, the ISM arranged and paid for Fumo’s use of a chartered yacht, Sweet Distraction. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 67; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 94.) In the spring of 2004, the FBI served a grand jury subpoena on the ISM. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 139.) Special Agents Kathy McAfee and Hum-phreys reviewed the ISM documents potentially responsive to the subpoena, which were then copied by the ISM’s counsel, William T. Hill of the Beasley Firm, and subsequently returned to the agents. (Id. at 139-40.) In April 2004, the agents discovered a letter requesting payment for the charter of the yacht, dated September 12, 2001, from Carter to Fumo, which they requested be part of the documents produced. (Id. at 141.) After the agents alerted Hill to the letter, Hill contacted his boss, James R. Beasley Jr., who then advised Sprague of the document. (Id. at 144-45.) Hill subsequently personally spoke to Sprague about the matter. (Id. at 154.) Hill learned from Sprague that Sprague had determined that it was improper for Fumo not to have paid for the charter, and that Sprague had advised Fumo that Fumo should reimburse the ISM for the cost of the charter, which Fumo did thereafter by check dated April 15, 2004. (Id. at 145; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 94; Gov’t Ex. 31.) Hill sent a letter to Agent Humphreys providing her with the following records relating to the charter: (1) the September 12, 2001 letter from Carter to Fumo requesting payment for the charter of the yacht, which had inadvertently been left out of the packet of documents provided to her earlier; (2) a memorandum dated April 16, 2004 from Carter to Carol McMahon of the ISM accounting department, directing McMahon to apply a repayment check from Fumo’s office for the repayment of the yacht; and (3) a copy of the repayment check for $13,375. (Gov’t Ex. 31; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 140-43.)

2. The Sprague Firm’s Representation of the ISM

In March 2004, after media interest regarding the ISM’s expenditure of funds on a residence for its former president, John Carter, and Fumo’s use of yachts owned by the ISM, the ISM retained the Sprague firm for the purpose of media relations. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 64; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶¶ 89-90; Def.’s Suppl. Resp. ¶¶ 50-52.) Over the course of several months, the Sprague firm charged over $25,000 in legal fees for the services of Sprague, Johnson and Sheppard. (Def.’s Suppl. Resp. ¶ 52; Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 64.) The Sprague firm ceased representing the ISM on May 19, 2004, when it became evident that the government was investigating matters relating not only to the ISM but also to Fumo. (Def.’s Suppl. Resp. ¶ 54; Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 65.) Thereafter, attorneys from the Beasley Firm represented the ISM in connection with the investigation. (Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 92; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 139, 144.) Howard L. Meyers, counsel for the ISM, has advised that the ISM does not have sufficient information to take a position on the issue of a waiver of any conflict of interest because Carter was responsible for the retention of the Sprague firm and the ISM has a new president and a new board of directors. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 66; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 95.)

C. Evidence Related to Citizens Alliance

1. The Sprague Firm’s Representation of Citizens Alliance

The government intends to argue at trial that the fact that Sprague attorneys were counsel for Citizens Alliance has evi-dentiary value, in that it alleges Fumo installed his favored attorneys for the purpose of controlling Citizens Alliance. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶20; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 18.) Fumo contests these allegations and argues that evidence has been adduced from which the opposite inference should be drawn. (Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 18.) The government intends to call as witnesses each of the persons who were members of Citizens Alliance’s board during the time that the Sprague firm represented Citizens Alliance. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 23.)

The Sprague firm represented Citizens Alliance in some capacity from February 3, 2000 through May 6, 2006, and was paid $247,470 in legal fees. (Gov’t Ex. 40.) From at least December 2003, the Sprague firm was retained to provide consultation and advice regarding corporate matters. (Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 18; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 9.) The scope of services provided concerned matters such as compensation for the Executive Director, Citizens Alliance’s contribution goals, financial issues including the investment of Citizens Alliance’s funds and the formulation of a policy for grant and loan requests, the disposition of real property, the termination of a Citizens Alliance employee for misconduct, and the nature of Citizens Alliance’s corporate governance. (Gov’t Ex. 18, 19; Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 78, 91, 93-96, 100, 102-104; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 8-9.) According to the board minutes, in one specific instance, at a meeting on December 30, 2004, the Citizens Alliance board agreed to designate Sprague firm attorney Johnson to be its spokesperson with respect to a $333,333.33 loan related to the “Welcome America” program in Philadelphia. (Gov’t Ex. 19.) In another board meeting, January 29, 2004, according to the minutes: “There was a discussion about the Executive Director’s salary. Steve Kobasa [an accountant for Citizens Alliance] reported that a comparable salary would be $150,000. Mr. Johnson agreed that it is reasonable and appropriate.” (Gov’t Ex. 18.) The government asserts that this salary increase was undertaken at the same time Arnao, the Executive Director of Citizens Alliance, was being removed from the Senate payroll. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 37.) At least two Citizens Alliance board members who testified at the evidentiary hearing were aware that the Sprague firm represented Fumo in connection with the investigation and knew that Johnson was an attorney with the Sprague firm. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 8,15, 40.) One board member specifically stated that Johnson never asked him to do anything he felt uncomfortable with or that was not in the best interests of Citizens Alliance. (Id. at 23.)

In addition to Johnson, Citizens Alliance also retained a number of other advisors and attorneys to represent the entity. When FBI agents Humphreys and McAfee were at the Citizens Alliance office to serve the first grand jury subpoena on Citizens Alliance, which was accepted by Arnao, in April 2004, Arnao contacted Johnson. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 19-20.) He advised the FBI agents that Arnao was represented by counsel and that they should not attempt to interview her. (Id.) Citizens Alliance then retained William Winning of Cozen O’Connor in early May 2004 to respond to the subpoena on behalf of Citizens Alliance and provide legal counsel with respect to the investigation. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 6; Tr. 6/26/07 at 20.) At a board meeting on December 16, 2004, Johnson explained to the Citizens Alliance board that, due to a conflict, he could not represent Citizens Alliance in connection with the criminal investigation, and advised the board that Winning was Citizens Alliance’s counsel with respect to the investigation and should be invited to subsequent board meetings. (Gov’t Ex. 19; Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 107; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 6-8.) As such, Citizens Alliance board members were aware of the reason for the retention of Winning and of the division of responsibilities between Johnson and Winning. (Gov’t Ex. 19; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 6-8.) Accordingly, during board meetings, when questions arose regarding the investigation, Johnson would defer to Winning. (Tr. 6/25/07 at 7.) Winning, in turn, hired Joseph Lundy, an experienced tax attorney, to advise Citizens Alliance with respect to issues involving taxes and Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 20-22.) When questions concerning tax issues were raised at board meetings, it was Lundy who was responsible for answering them. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 44-45.) Lundy, in turn, played a significant role in discussions and negotiations with Citizens Alliance’s auditors and its accountants, from the accounting firm of Stockton Bates, regarding the preparation of Citizens Alliance’s 2003 Form 990 for the IRS. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 20-22.) No evidence was adduced that Johnson played a significant role with respect to negotiations and discussions with Stockton Bates, or in matters involving the Form 990. Additionally, Lisa Petkun, of Pepper Hamilton LLP, has represented Citizens Alliance since 1999 in connection with its non-profit compliance and tax matters. (Id. at 41-43; Def. Exs. 4, 12.) Throughout 2005 and 2006, Johnson continued to represent Citizens Alliance providing advice regarding corporate matters. He also attended discussions concerning the criminal inquiry. (Gov’t Exs. 18, 19; Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 107; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 39.) Board meetings were also attended by other counsel. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 23.)

2. The Sprague Firm’s Involvement in the Ratification of Past Expenditures

In a series of newspaper articles beginning on November 16, 2003, Philadelphia newspapers reported on donations made by PECO energy company to Citizens Alliance in connection with a settlement of litigation initiated by Fumo, some of which questioned the propriety of such payments. (Gov’t Exs. 1-14.) Prior to January 24, 2004, none of the media reports concerning Citizens Alliance referenced any federal investigation. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 11-12.) According to Ken Snyder, media consultant and press spokesperson for Fumo, Fumo monitored the news coverage on a “minute by minute basis.” (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 62-63.) On January 24, 2004, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the FBI was investigating the matter of Fumo’s seeking contributions for Citizens Alliance from Verizon Corp., in connection with the settlement of a regulatory dispute. (Gov’t Ex. 12). Snyder took issue with the story because no source had been identified; the article stated that it had relied on two persons who had been interviewed by the FBI. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 72-73.) Snyder prepared a press release announcing that Fumo was seeking reelection. (Id. at 74.) He characterized Fumo as nonchalant about the article, and explained that Fumo had stated to him that “based on everything the Inquirer wrote and the sensational way they wrote it, is not surprising to me that the U.S. Attorney or an FBI agent would want to ... just find out for themselves. As a matter of fact, he said the more facts they look at, the better it is for me.” (Id. at 74-75.) No evidence was presented suggesting that before the January 24, 2004 Philadelphia Inquirer article attorneys from the Sprague firm were aware of a federal investigation regarding the expenditures of Citizens Alliance.

In December 2003, the board of Citizens Alliance held its first board meeting. (Id. at 76-78; Gov’t Ex. 18.) John Sfrisi, a Democratic committee person who has known Fumo for a long time and was asked to serve on Citizens Alliance’s board in 2002, explained that before this time the board had been very informal and his only information about Citizens Alliance came from Arnao when he ran into her on occasion. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 73-74.) At the December 2003 meeting, Johnson and Pet-kun were present as Citizens Alliance’s counsel, (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 76-78; 6/25/07 p.m. at 27; Def. Ex. 4), and Steven J. Kobasa, a partner from Stockton Bates, the accounting firm that had prepared Citizens Alliance’s consolidated audited financial statements from 1999-2002, was also present. (DefrEx. 11.) The initiation of board meetings was part of a larger effort to bring Citizens Alliance into corporate compliance, as there had not been board meetings previously. At the December 2003 board meeting, the issue of Unanimous Consents (“consents”), the purpose of which was to ratify Citizens Alliance’s expenditures for the years 1991 through 2002, was discussed. (6/25/07 a.m. at 77-79; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 51; Def. Ex. 11.) Pet-kun drafted the consents as part of a number of actions that were recommended by Pepper Hamilton LLP to bring Citizens Alliance into corporate compliance. (Def.Ex. 4.) It was Sfrisi’s understanding that the effort to formalize Citizens Alliance matters came as a result of the investigation. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 85.) Jeff Travelina, who replaced his deceased mother on the board in 2001, (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m at 24, 42-43), testified at the evidentia-ry hearing that the formalized actions were to avoid the perception that anyone controlled Citizens Alliance, including Fumo; although, during his grand jury testimony, he stated that the actions were to avoid the perception that Fumo controlled Citizens Alliance (Id. at 48-50; 59-60). Board Member Joseph Russo testified that, in part, the formal meetings were initiated as a result of the Inquirer’s articles about Citizens Alliance. (Id. at 86.)

The board met again on January 29, 2004. (Gov’t Ex. 18; Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 86-88.) Board meeting minutes exist for this meeting and other subsequent meetings. (Gov’t Exs. 18, 19.) One board member, Sfrisi, explained that the minutes are not a verbatim record of the meeting, but rather a summary of what occurred. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 17-18.) The minutes from January 29, 2004 contain at least one mistake: they state that the meeting is for “February.” (Gov’t Ex. 18; Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 88.) According to the minutes, present at the meeting were board members Sfrisi, Travelina, and Amel Hammad; Al Mezzaroba is not reported as having been present. (Gov’t Ex. 18.) Also reported as having been present are Arnao, Kobasa, Christian DiCicco and Johnson. (Id.) The minutes from the meeting state, in pertinent part, as follows:

The executive director, Ruth Arnao, reported the following items:

2) Mr. Johnson reviewed financial documents including all previous years tax returns, loans, and operating expenses. He concluded that all monies have been properly accounted for and used for their rightful purposes in accordance with the bylaws and mission statement.

3) A package was distributed to board members for ratification, via unanimous written consent, of past financial transactions.

(Id.) One board member, Sfrisi, testified that the package of materials presented as back up to the consents was about eight to twelve inches high. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 79-80.) Another board member, Traveli-na, commented that “it was a lot of paperwork.” (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 32.)

At the meeting on January 29, 2004, the board members were asked by Arnao to sign the consents, which had been discussed at the December 2003 board meeting. (Id. at 82-88.) There is no evidence that anyone from Citizens Alliance’s outside auditor, Stockton Bates, raised any objection to the consents at the meeting, or that there was any question raised about expenditures that were reported in the consolidated audited financial statements from 1999-2002, which did not reflect any improper expenditure by Citizens Alliance. (Def. Ex. 11; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 53; Tr. 6/26/07 at 74-76.) Although Pet-kun had prepared the consents, the board minutes do not reflect that she addressed the board regarding these matters or played any role other than preparing these documents; one board member specifically recalled that she had not made any statement to the board. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 5-6; Def. Ex. 4; Gov’t Ex. 18.) Sfrisi stated that he was never informed that he was ratifying transactions by Citizens Alliance such as $27,000 for a bulldozer for Fumo, $17,000 for a lawsuit against State Senator Robert Jubelier, or $50,000 for tools for Fumo, but would have asked about them if he had been aware. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 119-22.)

The board members signed the consents ratifying in gross all expenditures and tax filings that Citizens Alliance had made during the twelve-year period from 1991 to 2002. (Gov’t Exs. 37, 38; Def. Ex. 4.) The board members who signed the consents did not review the documents they were being asked to approve and had no understanding of the specific transactions at issue. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 79-80; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. 28-30, 87-88, 99-102.) Three board members stated that they signed the consents without reviewing the attached documentation because they trusted Arnao and she had told them to do so. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 83; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 35, 54, 88.) Sfrisi specifically testified that he would have signed anything that Arnao asked him to sign, regardless of anything anyone else said, including Johnson, even though he trusted Johnson. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 94; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 20.) Trave-lina testified that he trusted Johnson, but would have signed the consents regardless of Johnson if Arnao had asked him to do so. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 35.) He stated that he did not believe that Johnson had actually reviewed each and every transaction for the years in question. He also stated that it was possible that the statement in the board minutes concerning materials that Johnson had reviewed could have been in reference to the audited financial statements prepared by Stockton Bates, which may have been contained in the package presented to the board members. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 52-54.) One board member, Mezzaroba, testified that the signature on the consents did not appear to be his, but that he would have authorized Arnao to sign on his behalf if she had asked. (Id. at 98-100.)

At the next board meeting, on February 26, 2004, the board minutes again stated as follows: “Mr. Johnson reviewed all financial documents including all previous year’s tax returns, loans, and operating expenses. He concluded that all monies have been allocated for and used for their rightful purposes in accordance with bylaws and mission statement.” (Gov’t Ex. 18.) The government presented evidence that Johnson was also involved at board meetings by repeatedly assuring board members that Fumo had no control over Citizens Alliance’s expenditures. Specifically, Sfrisi testified that Johnson “sternly” told the board that Fumo “has no authority over how the money is spent.” (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 102-03; see also Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 10-11.) In explaining the weight that he gave to Johnson’s reassurances, Sfrisi testified, “I took that as a fact ... [b]eeause he said it, and he looked — he looked pretty — pretty sure he meant it.” (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 104.) Sfrisi’s recollection is corroborated by notes he took at one meeting, which state, “Fumo lobbies $ for C.A., he has no say how it’s spent!” (Gov’t Ex. 19.) When asked how he viewed Johnson’s role at monthly board meetings, Travelina stated that Johnson “told us we should take it a little more seriously, that we should concentrate when we're there and make sure if you have any objections or questions that — to just voice them.” (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 55.)

It is the government’s intention to argue at trial that the Citizens Alliance board’s signing of the consents ratifying all past expenditures was knowingly undertaken by Fumo and Arnao to conceal prior fraudulent transactions. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 36.) Moreover, the government alleges that after the December 2003 and January 2004 board meetings occurred, the fraudulent conduct continued. (Id.) Both the government and counsel for Fumo stated that they do not intend to call Johnson as a witness. Counsel for Fumo has stated that, at this time, they do not intend to present an advice of counsel defense. Counsel for Arnao has similarly averred that she does not intend to call Johnson or present an advice of counsel defense.

3. The Sprague Firm’s Involvement in Transactions Related to Polling Expenditures

Johnson was also involved in a matter concerning Citizens Alliance’s payment for certain polling expenditures. In 2002 and 2003, Citizens Alliance and its subsidiary paid for political polling, which Citizens Alliance later determined to be improper. In 2003, auditors from Stockton Bates became concerned with the possibility of improper expenditures made by Citizens Alliance in 2002 and 2003 when Arnao was unable to provide sufficient explanation for those polling expenditures. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 125; Def. Ex. 11.) Kobasa discussed the issue of polling expenditures with Arnao on March 18, 2004. (Def.Ex. 11.) Kobasa then met with Arnao and Johnson to discuss the matter; in speaking to Johnson, it was Kobasa’s impression that Johnson had no prior knowledge of any expenditures for polling. (Id.) Kobasa did not bring up the issue regarding the polling expenditures at either the December 2003 or January 2004 board meetings, nor was there any mention of the polling expenses in the consolidated audited financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2002. (Id.)

Global Strategy Group (“Global Strategy”), a polling firm that had been paid by Citizens Alliance, was served with a grand jury subpoena in September 2004. (Gov’t Ex. 21; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 16-17.) Global Strategy retained Jeh Johnson, of the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, in New York, to represent it in connection with the subpoena; Jeh Johnson has experience as a white collar criminal defense attorney and as a former Assistant United States Attorney. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 16-17, 29.) Jeh Johnson contacted the Sprague firm to tell the attorneys that Global Strategy had received the subpoena and to learn more about the nature of the investigation, including what information the government was seeking. (Id. at 18.) On the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving in November 2004, Johnson contacted Jeh Johnson and stated that he wanted to meet with him in person “to discuss something,” but did not mention the intended subject matter of the meeting during the telephone conversation. (Id. at 18-19.) At 8:30 a.m. on the day before Thanksgiving, Johnson traveled to New York to have an in-person meeting with Jeh Johnson, which lasted approximately thirty minutes. (Id. at 19-20.) Johnson told Jeh Johnson that Citizens Alliance had determined that the payments made to Global Strategies were inappropriate or a mistake, and wanted Global Strategy to reimburse Citizens Alliance, and then be paid by another entity. (Id. at 20.) Jeh Johnson responded that he would talk to his client about the proposal, but would not take any action unless the U.S. Attorney were informed, the transaction was completely transparent, and there was no effort to rewrite history. (Id. at 20-21.) Johnson agreed to the conditions and requested that the Sprague firm be the first to notify the government. (Id. at 21, 28.) On December 13, 2004, Johnson faxed to Jeh Johnson a draft letter that was to be sent to Jefrey Pollock of Global Strategy stating that payments were made to Global Strategy from Citizens Alliance “in error.” (Gov’t Ex. 22.) Jeh Johnson was concerned that the language of the letter suggested that the error was on the part of Global Strategy. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 24.) In a subsequent telephone conversation to Johnson, he questioned why Citizens Alliance did not simply have the appropriate Fumo political entity reimburse Citizens Alliance directly, rather, than Global Strategy going out of pocket for the amounts. (Id. at 25.) Jeh Johnson never heard an answer that was satisfactory to him. (Id. at 26.) Shortly thereafter, someone from the Sprague firm informed Jeh Johnson “that they had found another way to do what they wanted to do.” (Id.)

The Global Strategy account name under which Citizens Alliance was billed was titled “PA Democratic State Senate-Citizens Allianee/PA Statewide.” (Def.Ex. 1) At least one payment for polls that were completed under that account was paid by the Democratic State Campaign Committee. (Id.; Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 33-40.) Jeh Johnson also recalled minor mistakes that were made with respect to the account. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 34.)

On December 16, 2004, at the Citizens Alliance board meeting, the board authorized Arnao to recover monies paid by Citizens Alliance to Global Strategy. (Gov’t Ex. 19.) Travelina recalled a discussion wherein it had been explained that as a non-profit, Citizens Alliance was not allowed to pay for polling and thus had to recoup the money expended. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 35.) He recalled Arnao leading the discussion, but that Johnson had participated as well. (Id. at 36.) At the time, he believed that the expenditure was only an oversight that Arnao did not really understand and, if rectified, would not present a problem. (Id. at 36-37.)

Meanwhile, counsel and advisors to Citizens Alliance endeavored to resolve the polling issue with respect to Citizens Alliance’s tax filings. An email dated October 26, 2004, sent by Lundy to Kobasa and another auditor from Stockton Bates, Art Amelio, concerning a meeting with Johnson and Winning, stated: “As we discussed, I think it important that all of the advisors be on the same page as it regards the completion of 2003 financial statement and the 2003 IRS Form 990 to be filed.” (Gov’t Ex. 24; Tr. 6/25/07 at 110-11.) In December 2004, Fumo, Arnao, Johnson and Kobasa discussed their concerns arising out of the fact that Citizens Alliance’s Form 990 return for 2003 was late and that the IRS would grant no further extensions to file the return, which would result in a fine of $100 per day that the return was late. (Gov’t Ex. 41; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 118-19.) A Stockton Bates record from January 19, 2005 reflects that additional meetings involving Lundy, Johnson, and Winning took place, wherein those attorneys were to perform a line-by-line review of the draft 900 Form, but Stockton Bates would not be represented. (Gov’t Ex. 25.) The day after these attorneys met, Lundy sent an email to Amelio that included an attachment that they proposed be included with the 2003 Form 990. (Gov’t Ex. 26.) The draft stated that Citizens Alliance had “paid in error” invoices for political polling, but that Citizens Alliance had requested and received reimbursement in full for all amounts paid in error. (Id.) After “going back and forth” about the matter, on September 12, 2005, Stockton Bates resigned from the engagement with Citizens Alliance because the accountants determined that they had not received satisfactory answers about how the polling-payment mistakes had occurred, and because they were not given copies of the polling results, as requested. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 123-24.) One of the auditors testified that, as a result of the deficiencies, they were uncomfortable preparing the return in the way it was suggested. (Id. at 118.)

The government intends to argue that, consistent with the indictment, Fumo and Arnao took steps to conceal their improper conduct by creating the defense that the political polling expenditures were a mere mistake. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 39.) Both the government and Fumo aver that Johnson will not be called as a witness with respect to the polling expenses.

4. Waiver by the Citizens Alliance Board

At a board meeting in June 2007, the Citizens Alliance board voted that if any conflicts of interest, with reference to the Sprague firm’s representation, exist in this case, Citizens Alliance will waive those conflicts. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 57-58.) The board members discussed the potential conflicts outside of the presence of Citizens Alliance lawyers Winning and Lundy, and the new Executive Director, Christian DiCicco; however, two of the board members — Sfrisi and Travelina — testified that they did not fully read or comprehend the relevant pleadings or issues. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 126-30; Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 41.) Sfrisi relied on the opinions of two board members who are lawyers, who did most of the talking during the board’s discussion. (Tr. 6/25/07 a.m. at 126-30.) Those board members were not called as witnesses.

E. Miscellaneous Evidence

In 2000, Citizens Alliance’s outside auditor Ronald Beckman, who was engaged to represent Citizens Alliance in connection with an IRS audit, wrote a memorandum to Arnao that discussed certain improprieties uncovered during the audit related to Citizens Alliance. (Def.Ex. 7.) This memorandum was copied to Howard Braitman, CPA, an independent contractor affiliated with the Sprague firm; however, there was no evidence that any attorney from the Sprague firm was made aware of any improper expenditure by Citizens Alliance as a result of the 2000 IRS audit. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 63; Def. Ex. 7.)

Agent Humphreys testified that she interviewed individuals from Verizon Corp. (“Verizon”) in connection with the FBI’s investigation of Fumo’s dealings with Verizon. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 151.) She learned from Julia Conover, Verizon’s general counsel, that Daniel Walen, the president of Verizon, had reached an agreement with Fumo that Verizon would provide a certain amount of legal work to a particular firm, the designation of which they would agree upon. Initially, they agreed on the amount of $500,000 per year for five years, but later they changed their agreement to $1,000,000 per year for three years. (Id at 153.) Conover and Whelan had agreed that Verizon could not use Dilworth Paxon because Fumo was a member of that ñrm. (Id) They also rejected the suggestion by Fumo of the Sprague firm because Verizon needed a full-service firm. (Id.) Steve Wojdak, a lobbyist for Verizon, testified before the grand jury that Fumo retained the Sprague firm to han|fe.the filings and advocate the Verizon settSient. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 154.) In April 2002, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved a form of the settlement, which triggered Verizon’s obligations; however, certain items remained unresolved, including Verizon’s contribution to the Philly Pops and which firm would receive the legal work, with Fumo pressing for either Dilworth Paxon or the Sprague firm. (Id. at 154-55.) Eventually, Fumo and Verizon agreed the legal work should go to Thomas Leonard of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP. (Id. at 155.) There was no evidence that anyone from the Sprague firm was aware that their firm had been suggested. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 36.)

In 2002, the Sprague firm represented several South Philadelphia community groups in connection with the development of the new football and baseball stadiums. (Tr. 6/25/07 p.m. at 56-57.) On March 28, 2002, Carl Engelke, a member of Fumo’s staff for approximately eight and a half years, (Tr. 6/26/07 at 33), sent the following email to Arnao:

This e-mail is the reminder you asked me to send you regarding the $20,000-$25,000 that the Senator authorized through Citizen’s to pay for the environment studies and associated attorneys fees for the Veteran’s Stadium neighbors regarding the dirt the Phillies are piling up behind their homes. Chuck Hardy and Tyler Wren from Sprague’s office are the lead attorneys dealing with this issue.

(Gov’t Ex. 32.) Citizens Alliance paid the Sprague firm a $20,000 fee in connection with that representation. (Id.; Def. Ex. 5.) Engelke testified that he meant that Fumo had authorized Engelke to work with Citizens Alliance to provide the funding, but that Arnao was the sole determiner of how Citizens Alliance spent its money. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 29-30.) The government intends to call Engelke to testify about this matter in order to support its theory that Fumo controlled Citizens Alliance. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 60.)

On August 17, 2004, one of Fumo’s associates sent Fumo an email requesting a contribution from Citizens Alliance for a van for a disabled person in his district. (Gov’t Ex. 33.) Fumo replied as follows: “I will check with Ruth. They won’t give a dime without Sprague’s office signing off. You understand the problem. The Feds have already subpoenaed and gotten 62,-000 pages of documents from them so they MUST be very careful. How much does he need?” (Id.) The government intends to argue that this evidence shows that Fumo controlled Citizens Alliance and the fact that the Sprague firm was involved has evidentiary value. (Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 61.)

F. Evidence Concerning the Potential Hardship Faced by Fumo

Fumo has had a long-standing relationship with the Sprague firm. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 117; Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 3; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶8.) Attorneys from the Sprague firm have represented Fumo in this matter since March 2004, (Tr. 6/26/07 at 116; Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 3; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 3.) Between five and seven attorneys from the Sprague firm have worked a significant number of hours on Fumo’s defense. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 116; Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 3; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 4.) These attorneys are familiar with the hundreds of thousands of emails and documents at issue in this case, and have interviewed most of the 300 witnesses the government has interviewed, as well as others, in connection with the investigation. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 13, 117; Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 3; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶¶ 5-6.) Additionally, attorneys from the Sprague firm have a long-standing and good working relationship with counsel for codefen-dants in this case, with whom they have been cooperating since the beginning of the investigation. (Tr. 6/26/07 at 117; Gov’t’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 3; Def.’s Proposed Findings of Fact ¶ 7.)

III. Legal Standard

“The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees that ‘in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right ... to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.’ ” Wheat v. United States, 486 U.S. 153, 158, 108 S.Ct. 1692, 100 L.Ed.2d 140 (1988) (quoting U.S. Const, amend. VI). The Third Circuit has made clear that “[t]he Sixth Amendment guarantee of effective assistance of counsel includes two correlative rights, the right to adequate representation by an attorney of reasonable competence and the right to the attorney’s undivided loyalty free of conflict of interest.” United States v. Moscony, 927 F.2d 742, 748 (3d Cir.1991) (citations omitted). “However, another right is derived from the right to effective assistance of counsel, for the ‘the right to counsel being conceded, a defendant should be afforded a fair opportunity to secure counsel of his own choice.’ ” Moscony, 927 F.2d at 748 (citing Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S. 45, 53, 53 S.Ct. 55, 77 L.Ed. 158 (1932)). “Thus, a presumptive right to the counsel of one’s choice has been recognized as arising out of the Sixth Amendment.” Moscony, 927 F.2d at 748 (citing Wheat, 486 U.S. at 159, 108 S.Ct. 1692). However, this presumption is only that, and may be overcome “not only by a demonstration of actual conflict but by a showing of a serious potential for conflict.” Wheat, 486 U.S. at 164,108 S.Ct. 1692; see also Moscony, 927 F.2d at 750.

Determining whether such a conflict exists under this standard “must be left primarily to the informed judgment of the trial court.” Wheat, 486 U.S. at 164, 108 S.Ct. 1692. As noted by the Third Circuit, this “is no simple task. ‘The likelihood and dimensions of nascent conflicts of interest are notoriously hard to predict, even for those thoroughly familiar with criminal trials.’ ” United States v. Voigt, 89 F.3d 1050, 1076 (3d Cir.1996) (quoting Wheat, 486 U.S. at 162-63, 108 S.Ct. 1692). Thus, when reviewing a district court’s decision whether or not to disqualify on conflict-of-interest grounds, the Third Circuit performs a two-step inquiry to determine whether the disqualification was proper. First, the court of appeals “exerciser plenary review to determine whether the district court’s disqualification was arbitrary&emdash;‘the product of a failure to balance proper considerations of judicial administration against the right to counsel.’ ” United States v. Stewart, 185 F.3d 112, 120 (3d Cir.1999) (quoting Voigt, 89 F.3d at 1074). Where the trial court “makes a reasoned determination on the basis of a fully prepared record, its decision will not be deemed arbitrary.” Voigt, 89 F.3d at 1075 (internal quotation omitted). “Formal findings of fact are not required.” Id. at 1076. If the district court’s determination is held not arbitrary, the court of appeals then considers whether the district court abused its discretion in disqualifying the attorney. Stewart, 185 F.3d at 120. Where there has been an erroneous deprivation of counsel, a defendant need not additionally show prejudice and this error is not subject to review for harmlessness. United States v. Gonzalez-Lopez,-,- ; U.S. -,-, 126 S.Ct. 2557, 2563-64, 165 L.Ed.2d 409 (2006) (“We have little trouble concluding that erroneous deprivation of the right to counsel of choice, with consequences that are necessarily unquantifiable and indeterminate, unquestionably qualifies as structural error.” (internal quotations omitted)).

Where a defendant chooses to waive any conflict of interest faced by his or her attorney in order to retain counsel of choice, a court may accept that waiver under appropriate circumstances. See Gov’t of Virgin Islands v. Zepp, 748 F.2d 125, 139 (3d Cir.1984) (“The court should also determine whether there has been a waiver of the conflict, whether the waiver was effective or whether a waiver was possible.”). Nevertheless, “[fjederal courts have an independent interest in ensuring that criminal trials are conducted within the ethical standards of the profession and that legal proceedings appear fair to all who observe them,” thus the district court may override a defendant’s waiver of his attorney’s conflict of interest. Wheat, 486 U.S. at 160, 108 S.Ct. 1692; see also Stewart, 185 F.3d at 122 (citing Wheat, 486 U.S. at 164, 108 S.Ct. 1692, and stating “a district court has discretion to disqualify counsel if a potential conflict exists even where the represented parties have waived the conflict”). The Supreme Court’s holding in Gonzalez-Lopez that an erroneous deprivation constitutes a structural error, 126 S.Ct. at 2564, does not impair the district court’s “substantial latitude in refusing waivers of conflicts of interest not only in those rare cases where an actual conflict may be demonstrated before trial, but in the more common cases where a potential for conflict exists which may or may not burgeon into an actual conflict as the trial progresses.” Wheat, 486 U.S. at 163, 108 S.Ct. 1692; see also Gonzalez-Lopez, 126 S.Ct. at 2565 (stating that “[njothing we have said today casts any doubt or places any qualification upon our previous holdings that limit the right to counsel of choice”).

Quoting from a Third Circuit case, United States v. Dolan, 570 F.2d 1177, 1184 (3d Cir.1978), the Supreme Court explained that “[w]hen a trial court finds an actual conflict of interest which impairs the ability of a criminal defendant’s chosen counsel to conform with the ABA Code of Professional Responsibility, the court should not be required to tolerate an inadequate representation of a defendant.” Wheat, 486 U.S. at 162, 108 S.Ct. 1692. As such, the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct, 204 Pa.Code § 81.4 (“RPC”), provide a guide for considering whether ethical standards have been maintained in a given situation. See In Re Grand Jury Investigation, 2006 WL 2385518, at *3, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 57756, at *11 (E.D.Pa. May 16, 2006) (finding that the RPC provide a useful template against which to measure the conduct of lawyers subject to a disqualification motion); United States v. Stout, 723 F.Supp. 297, 303 (E.D.Pa.1989) (using the RPC to determine ethical considerations governing disqualification motion). The Local Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania require attorneys practicing in the district to comply with the RPC. See Local R. Civ. P. 83.6; Local R.Crim. P. 1.2. However, “[t]he disqualification of a defendant’s chosen counsel need not be ... predicated on a finding of a specific RPC violation.” Voigt, 89 F.3d at 1076 n. 12.

IV. Discussion

The government contends that counsel for Fumo should be disqualified because attorneys from the Sprague firm have represented the alleged victim entities, are witnesses to pertinent events, and will be placed in the position of arguing the propriety of their own actions. I will address each of these arguments turn.

A. The Sprague Firm’s Representation of the Victim Entities

The government contends that the Sprague firm should be disqualified because attorneys from the Sprague firm have represented all of the victim entities in this case. The government asserts that it is conclusively presumed that in the course of that representation the attorneys learned confidential information and, therefore, cannot ethically cross-examine representatives from those entities. Moreover, they have conflicting loyalties to their former and current clients.

The Third Circuit has found an attorney’s representation intolerable, and therefore warranting disqualification, where he or she has conflicting duties of loyalty to his or her current and former clients. See Stewart, 185 F.3d at 121 (stating that although “the typical scenario where disqualification becomes necessary entails an attorney’s attempt to represent multiple defendants in the same prosecution,” conflicts arise where a defendant’s counsel of choice has “divided loyalties due to concurrent or prior representation of another client who is a co-defendant, a co-conspirator, or a government witness” (internal quotation and emphasis omitted)). Such a situation may occur where the attorney has previously obtained confidential information or is placed in the position of cross-examining his or her former client at the trial of his or her current client.

In Moscony, the Third Circuit affirmed the district court’s disqualification of the defendant’s chosen attorney based on that attorney’s prior representation of government witnesses in the same investigation. 927 F.2d at 748. Throughout the grand jury investigation, the attorney had represented the defendant as well as three of his employees. Id. at 747. After the defendant was indicted, recognizing that the employees would be called as witnesses, the government, joined by those employees, moved to disqualify the defendant’s counsel. Id. All three employees testified that they believed that the attorney in question was their personal attorney and had had confidential communications with him. Id. The district court disqualified the law firm of the defendant’s attorney, finding that the employees’ testimony would be central to the government’s case. Id. at 747-48. The court held that the necessary vigorous cross-examination if forgone would have deprived the defendant of his Sixth Amendment right to counsel, and if pursued would have violated the ethical standard regarding privileged communications. Id. at 748. The Third Circuit agreed, affirming disqualification and stating that “an actual conflict of interest obviously existed.... Conflicts of interest arise whenever an attorney’s loyalties are divided and an attorney who cross-examines former clients inherently encounters divided loyalties.” Id. at 750 (internal citations omitted). The court specifically found that the attorney could have used the confidential information that he had obtained from the employees “to cross-examine, and possibly impeach, them at [the defendant’s] trial.” Id. Further, while the defendant tried to minimize the importance of the confidential information imparted to his attorney, the Third Circuit found that its substance was at “the very crux of the government’s case.” Id.

A similar situation existed in Voigt, where the attorney in question represented multiple codefendants in the same investigation, and at least one of those code-fendants would testify at the defendant’s trial. 89 F.3d at 1078. Thus, “[s]ince there was a strong possibility that [the witness] might face cross-examination by a former attorney, there was a serious potential for a conflict of interest.” Id. The Court of Appeals also noted that at least one eodefendant who had interacted with that attorney refused to waive the attorney-client privilege and stated that she had imparted confidential information to the attorney, which “may have been sufficient, in and of itself, to warrant disqualification.” Id. at 1079.

The disqualification of a defendant’s chosen attorney was also upheld where the attorney represented government witnesses not in the same criminal action, but with respect to the same subject matter. See Stewart, 185 F.3d 112. In Stewart, the defendant’s chosen attorneys simultaneously represented, in a parallel civil RICO action, four government witnesses who were to testify at the defendant’s criminal trial. Id. at 119. The district court disqualified the law firm, determining that “the firm’s defending of [the defendant] was ‘directly adverse’ to its representation of the four individuals, and thus placed the ... attorneys in the ‘unenviable position of cross-examining their own clients with the help of attorney-client communications.’ ” Id. at 120 (quoting United States v. Stewart, 1997 WL 611594, *4, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14909, at *9-10 (E.D.Pa. Sept. 24, 1997)). The Thud Circuit upheld the disqualification, over a waiver by all parties involved, finding that because the law firm’s attorneys “would have been part of a team of attorneys required to cross-examine the four individuals testifying for the government, [the defendant’s] right to effective counsel could have been compromised by the divided loyalties of his own attorney.” Stewart, 185 F.3d at 121. The Third Circuit went on to reject the defendant’s contention that his publicly declared defense strategy— which was not to focus blame on those four individuals but to assert that the allegedly fraudulent transactions were legal — did not diverge from the interests of the four witnesses, thus presenting no conflict. Id. In doing so, the court noted that “a defendant’s trial strategy is not fixed_Ac-cordingly, the district court could not accept [the de