Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 02:01 PM Feb 2017

Watchdog group files suit over Kellyanne's violation concerning Ivanka's products endorsement

Washington, DC—Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway’s official endorsement of Ivanka Trump’s products from the White House this morning was an apparent violation of federal law, ethics regulations and other standards of conduct, according to complaints filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) with the Office of Government Ethics and White House Counsel’s Office.

During an interview on Fox & Friends, Ms. Conway explicitly endorsed Ms. Trump’s products, saying, “Go buy Ivanka’s stuff is what I would tell you…It’s a wonderful line. I own some of it. … I’m going to give a free commercial here. Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online.” At the time, Ms. Conway unquestionably was acting in her official capacity. She was introduced as “special counselor to President of the United States, Kellyanne Conway, who joins us today from the briefing room,” and the White House seal is clearly visible behind her during the interview.

“The law is clear that public officials should not use their offices for their own private gain or the private gain of others,” CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder said. “It’s hard to find a clearer case of that kind of misuse of office than we saw today.”

Federal ethics regulations prohibit any employee from endorsing “any product, service or enterprise,” even explicitly saying that a government employee “may not appear in a television commercial in which she endorses” a product. Conway appears to have further violated federal law prohibiting the use of public funds for non-official purposes. Selling the president’s daughter’s clothing line is not an official purpose of the United States government.

“This is just another example of what looks like a disturbing pattern of this administration acting to benefit the businesses of the president’s family and supporters,” Bookbinder said. “Americans are unfortunately at the point where they have to question who the Trump administration is looking out for, the American people or the Trump family.”



http://www.citizensforethics.org/press-release/crew-files-ethics-complaints-kellyanne-conway/
32 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Watchdog group files suit over Kellyanne's violation concerning Ivanka's products endorsement (Original Post) ehrnst Feb 2017 OP
Good. There should be push back on every misstep they make. Lucinda Feb 2017 #1
Their defense will be that they're too stupid to understand the law. randome Feb 2017 #2
This is off topic but MontanaMama Feb 2017 #22
Trump-et 45's failure wherever you go! Thanks! randome Feb 2017 #30
Kellyanne Conway is a lawyer. madaboutharry Feb 2017 #3
She just does not care if what she did was unethical or broke any laws. Grammy23 Feb 2017 #16
What YOU said!. . .n/t annabanana Feb 2017 #21
Law degree from Trump University ? rickford66 Feb 2017 #18
George Washington University Law School in D.C. madaboutharry Feb 2017 #19
We want her transcripts rickford66 Feb 2017 #20
Seriously? I thought you were joking MontanaMama Feb 2017 #23
Someone gave the barking mannequin a degree in LAW??? lindysalsagal Feb 2017 #31
I sent my own complaint to them this morning, as soon as I saw the ad. Ms. Toad Feb 2017 #4
I'm sure that Republicans will respond quickly with hearings and investigations Orrex Feb 2017 #5
A lawsuit a day... That's our Trumpy! Eyeball_Kid Feb 2017 #6
Every time I see another story like this I imagine if Obama had done it LiberalLovinLug Feb 2017 #7
You don't have to imagine anything gratuitous Feb 2017 #10
Great news! 50 Shades Of Blue Feb 2017 #8
Cool ailsagirl Feb 2017 #9
Really? I think we passed that "point" long ago DFW Feb 2017 #11
i think there are people who are in denial barbtries Feb 2017 #26
one must ask her why is she adovcating buying made in china junk? nt msongs Feb 2017 #12
LOCK HER UP! Gamecock Lefty Feb 2017 #13
Thread winner!!! hamsterjill Feb 2017 #14
THANKS TRUMP!!!!! workinclasszero Feb 2017 #17
Fucking morons are running this country into the ground! workinclasszero Feb 2017 #15
So what can happen? barbtries Feb 2017 #24
Great news! Thanks for sharing this. Conjob need to be retired to the shadows Maru Kitteh Feb 2017 #25
So maybe when the little Spicer pipsqueak said she's been "counseled," calimary Feb 2017 #27
Let's not forget the boys... sheshe2 Feb 2017 #32
This is important mgardener Feb 2017 #28
Maybe KC knew better but was kissing up to MontanaMama Feb 2017 #29
 

randome

(34,845 posts)
2. Their defense will be that they're too stupid to understand the law.
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 02:07 PM
Feb 2017

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Donald Trump's scorecard:
Muslim ban = failed. Yemen raid = failed. Approval ratings = failed.
Mexican wall = failed. Economic utopia = failed. Grade point average = 0.
[/center][/font][hr]

MontanaMama

(23,322 posts)
22. This is off topic but
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 04:12 PM
Feb 2017

I had to heart you for your DFT Score Card. I crack up every time I see it!! Thanks!

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
30. Trump-et 45's failure wherever you go! Thanks!
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 07:13 PM
Feb 2017

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Donald Trump's scorecard:
Muslim ban = failed. Yemen raid = failed. Approval ratings = failed.
Mexican wall = failed. Economic utopia = failed. Grade point average = 0.
[/center][/font][hr]

madaboutharry

(40,212 posts)
3. Kellyanne Conway is a lawyer.
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 02:07 PM
Feb 2017

She should know better. The fact that she made these statements indicates that there is a culture in the White House where rules don't matter. The culture of "We can say and do anything. Too bad" usually ends poorly for those in the middle of it.

Grammy23

(5,810 posts)
16. She just does not care if what she did was unethical or broke any laws.
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 03:40 PM
Feb 2017

The whole lot of that bunch of thugs have been emboldened and will not be deterred until they are facing serious charges that could end in jail time, loss of job or heavy fines. tRump does not think that he is bound by any laws and extends that privilege to his staff. If we do not insist that they face consequences for their actions and words they will continue this train wreck of a Presidency.

madaboutharry

(40,212 posts)
19. George Washington University Law School in D.C.
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 03:54 PM
Feb 2017

It is a very good law school with a high ranking. Go figure.

MontanaMama

(23,322 posts)
23. Seriously? I thought you were joking
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 04:16 PM
Feb 2017

that that horrid bag of hair is a lawyer??? WTF?? That fact makes what she did worse, I think. Most adults do better when they know better. Not this crowd. There are no adults in the room anymore.

Ms. Toad

(34,075 posts)
4. I sent my own complaint to them this morning, as soon as I saw the ad.
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 02:11 PM
Feb 2017

Following the one I sent yesterday when Trump used the POTUS account to retweet his condemnation of Nordstroms.

LiberalLovinLug

(14,174 posts)
7. Every time I see another story like this I imagine if Obama had done it
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 02:13 PM
Feb 2017

If say Michelle had some kind of exercise or healthy food alternative company that for one she refused to divest in, and second had on Democratic spokespersons on News shows promoting it as well.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
10. You don't have to imagine anything
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 03:07 PM
Feb 2017

Just go to the comments section on any of these stories (never read the comments) and there's a whole litany of sins, real and imagined, that conservatives go down to justify their own team's transgressions. For example, did you know that President Obama re-opened relations with Cuba solely so that President Clinton could get Cuban cigars? It's nonsense, of course, but these are the kinds of things that get recited back and forth to the True Believers until they actually come to think they're true.

DFW

(54,405 posts)
11. Really? I think we passed that "point" long ago
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 03:13 PM
Feb 2017

“Americans are unfortunately at the point where they have to question who the Trump administration is looking out for, the American people or the Trump family.”

No, we aren't, and no, we don't. We have long passed the point where we have to raise that question. Trump supporters are cool with it, the rest of us are not, but no one still thinks there is a question. The Trump administration cares about the Trumps first (mostly The Donald), and everyone else (when at all) second. Approve or not, but there can't be anyone left who thinks the issue is unclear.

barbtries

(28,799 posts)
26. i think there are people who are in denial
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 04:18 PM
Feb 2017

and they'll remain that way to the death. they are full fledged cultists.

 

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts)
15. Fucking morons are running this country into the ground!
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 03:39 PM
Feb 2017

Conjob's orders came right from Orange Hitler!

He should be impeached for browbeating a damn department store for dropping his daughters clothing line!!!!

barbtries

(28,799 posts)
24. So what can happen?
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 04:17 PM
Feb 2017

Can she be fined? Unless she experiences something close to an actual consequence, nothing will change

Maru Kitteh

(28,341 posts)
25. Great news! Thanks for sharing this. Conjob need to be retired to the shadows
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 04:17 PM
Feb 2017

or simply retired.

Watching Spice Boy fall all over himself today over this matter was simply priceless.

calimary

(81,322 posts)
27. So maybe when the little Spicer pipsqueak said she's been "counseled,"
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 04:26 PM
Feb 2017

maybe he means she is being provided with legal counsel?

I am LOVING this!

Damages Mme Melania is seeking for being prevented from raking it in on her fashion/makeup/hair/accessories brand: 150 million dollars.
Price per share Nordstrom’s stock increased on Wednesday after the company dumped Ivanka Trump's cheap knockoff fashion line: $44.53 (up 4%).
Kellyanne CONway facing possible federal ethics violations for sales pitch to public to "buy Ivanka's stuff": PRICELESS!!!!

mgardener

(1,817 posts)
28. This is important
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 04:39 PM
Feb 2017

I can't decide if they have no idea their behaviors are inappropriate or they are so arrogant they feel they can do anything.
Can you imagine if a Democrat had done this? The outrage would be loud and !

MontanaMama

(23,322 posts)
29. Maybe KC knew better but was kissing up to
Thu Feb 9, 2017, 05:01 PM
Feb 2017

her boss after her Bowling Green debacle lost her some credibility with the media? What better way to Dumpty's heart than to through his daughter?

Gah! My whole post is admittedly disgusting. I need a shower. Sorry.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Watchdog group files suit...