5 CFR § 2635.101 - Basic obligation of public service
(14) Employees shall endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance that they are violating the law or the ethical standards set forth in this part.
28 CFR § 45.2 - Disqualification arising from personal or political relationship. (a) No employee shall participate in a criminal investigation or prosecution if he has a political relationship with any person substantially involved in the conduct that is the subject of the investigation which he knows has a specific and substantial interest that would be directly affected by the outcome of the investigation.
L. Lynch's private meetings with the spouse of a woman currently under the investigation of the FBI, L. Lynch created a public appearance of partisanship and must be removed