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Kellyanne Conway 'counseled' for plugging Ivanka's clothing line 0:0 The White House said Thursday that Kellyanne Conway, a top…
That “free commercial” for Ivanka Trump’s clothing line could end up costing Kellyanne Conway.
The head of the federal government’s watchdog group, the Office of Government Ethics, says “there is strong reason to believe” that Conway, the ubiquitous presidential adviser, “violated the Standards of Conduct and that disciplinary action is warranted” because she touted the First Daughter’s failing fashion line on national television.
“I recommend that the White House investigate Ms. Conway’s actions and consider taking disciplinary action against her,” Walter Shaub, who was appointed to his position by President Obama in 2013, wrote to the White House counsel’s office.
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Shaub requested a response by Feb. 28 of “the findings of your investigation and any disciplinary or other corrective action” taken.
But the ethics office can only make recommendations.
It relies on an employee’s agency — in this case the White House — to take action, if any.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said last week that Conway had been “counseled” about her actions.
Conway later said that President Trump “supports me 100 percent.”
Conway used a TV appearance last week on Fox News for what she called a “free commercial,” calling on viewers to purchase clothing from Ivanka Trump’s line after retailers — most notably Nordstrom — began pulling the items.
It’s illegal for government officials to use their position to endorse products. Donald Trump himself tweeted that his daughter was being treated unfairly by Nordstrom.
Shaub’s letter was released Tuesday by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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