Donald Trump's Conflicts of Interest are Unprecedented
The new president and his family are positioned to profit from policy they help create.
LEARN MOREKellyanne Conway Uses White House Role To Tout Ivanka Trump Products
Conway's "free commercial" seems to have broken an ethics rule.
Kellyanne Conway Uses White House Role To Tout Ivanka Trump Products
Getty Images / Chris Kleponis
February 10, 2017
White House spokesperson Kellyanne Conway gave Ivanka Trump a "free commercial."
"It's a wonderful line; I own some of it," Conway told Fox News from the White House briefing room. "I'm going to give a free commercial here. Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online."
That appears to violate federal ethics regulations.
ยง 2635.702 Use of public office for private gain.
"An employee shall not use his public office for his own private gain, for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise, or for the private gain of friends, relatives, or persons with whom the employee is affiliated in a nongovernmental capacity."
That regulation applies to Conway. She's a White House employee, and taxpayers fund her salary.
President Donald Trump also used his position to lobby for Ivanka's business.
So, who's supposed to hold Conway accountable? The White House, according to The Washington Post.
Of course, House Republicans could also hold Conway accountable. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings wrote a letter to Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. It referred the comments "for review and potential disciplinary action."
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