White House says no further discipline for Kellyanne Conway is needed
A letter from White House counsel to the Office of Government Ethics says Conway is 'highly unlikely' to endorse Ivanka Trump's clothing line again after a review of ethics rules.
A letter from White House counsel to the Office of Government Ethics says Conway is 'highly unlikely' to endorse Ivanka Trump's clothing line again after a review of ethics rules.
The White House concluded in a letter to the Office of Government Ethics released on Wednesday that presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway acted 鈥渋nadvertently鈥� when she endorsed first daughter Ivanka Trump鈥檚 clothing and jewelry line during a Fox News interview on Feb. 9.
The letter from White House Deputy Counsel Stefan Passantino made no mention of having disciplined Ms. Conway 鈥� a course of action that the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) had earlier recommended for consideration, citing a 鈥渟trong reason to believe鈥� she had violated ethics rules. After meeting with Conway to review federal rules against endorsements, wrote Mr. Passantino, she was 鈥渉ighly unlikely to do so again,鈥澛燼ccording to Reuters.
鈥淚t is noted that Ms. Conway made the statement in question in a light, off-hand manner while attempting to stand up for a person she believed had been unfairly treated and did so without nefarious motive or intent to benefit personally,鈥澛爏aid Passantino in the letter.
The episode was the latest to raise questions about potential conflicts stemming from the global business entanglements of President Trump and his close circle, especially for advisers and others who are subject to ethics rules from which the president himself is exempt.
As noted by CNN Money, Conway鈥檚 comments came a day after Mr. Trump had complained of unfair treatment by Nordstrom when it dropped his daughter鈥檚 fashion line from its catalog.聽
鈥淚t's a wonderful line,鈥澛爏he said of Ms. Trump鈥檚 clothing and jewelry, in an interview with the hosts of "Fox and Friends."聽鈥淚 own some of it. I'm going to give a free commercial here, go buy it everybody. You can find it online.鈥�
Federal law prohibits government employees from using their聽鈥減osition or title ... to endorse any product, service or enterprise; or to give the appearance of governmental sanction.鈥澛�
As 海角大神 reported earlier this month, White House officials have characterized Conway鈥檚 remarks as a defense of her boss鈥檚 daughter, not an endorsement. But government agencies have generally interpreted the endorsement rule as having potentially broad application when advising employees:
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D) of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, criticized the White House鈥檚 response.
鈥淥ther federal employees would likely be suspended for engaging in this conduct, and White House officials should not be held to a different standard,鈥� he said, according to CNN.
Norman Eisen, who served as special counsel on ethics to former President Barack Obama, said in an interview with Reuters that Passantino鈥檚 handling of the situation seemed reasonable, although he would have preferred a stronger response from the White House. Each federal agency decides for itself how to handle violations of the sort, he added.
The OGE can still recommend a suspension or other specific penalties for Conway, though the White House would not be obliged to carry out the recommendation.聽
This report contains material from Reuters.