(a) Discipline of persons practicing before the Commission. The Commission may, to the extent not prohibited by law, censure, suspend, or revoke the privilege to practice before it of any person who makes, or solicits the making of, an unauthorized ex parte communication.

(b) Adverse action on claim. Upon receipt of a communication knowingly made or knowingly caused to be made by a party in violation of this subpart, the Commission, administrative law judge, or other employee presiding at the hearing may, to the extent consistent with the interests of justice and the policy of the underlying statutes, require the party to show cause why his claim or interest in the proceeding should not be dismissed, denied, disregarded, or otherwise adversely affected on account of such violation.

(c) Discipline of Commission employees. The Commission may censure, suspend, or dismiss any Commission employee who violates the prohibitions or requirements of this Code.

[28 FR 4447, May 3, 1963, as amended at 42 FR 14691, Mar. 16, 1977]