Petition to Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Chair of House Oversight Committee:
Donald Trump used his official platform as president to attack Nordstrom after the department store dropped his daughter Ivanka’s clothing and shoe line. Then, counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway, appeared on Fox News and encouraged viewers to purchase Ivanka Trump’s products – a clear violation of federal ethics rules – going so far as to say “I’m going to give them a free commercial here.” Please use your power as Chair of the House Oversight Committee to immediately launch an investigation into these ethics violations by the Trump White House.
Recently the Nordstrom department store chain announced it would no longer carry Ivanka Trump’s clothing and shoe line. What did Donald Trump do? Naturally, he lashed out and used his power as president to attack the company:
“My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!”1
Trump attacking the company this was bad enough. But then one of his top White House advisors, Kellyanne Conway, appeared on live television and told viewers to buy Ivanka Trump’s products – a blatant violation of federal ethics rules:
“Go buy Ivanka’s stuff is what I would say. I’m going to give a free commercial here: Go buy it today everybody, you can find it online.”2
Tell the House Oversight Committee chair: Immediately investigate ethics violations by Kellyanne Conway and the Trump White House!
The law on this sort of thing is very clear. According to the Office of Government Ethics:
“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.”
It is the job of the House Oversight Committee to ensure all government officials and employees abide by our ethics laws, holding everyone, Democrat or Republican, to the same standards.
Rarely are ethics violations made in such plain language and under the glare of studio lights. To ignore this would send a message to every administration official and federal employee it is open season on professional standards and government ethics.
Sign the Petition: Tell Rep. Jason Chaffetz, House Oversight Committee Chair, to launch an investigation into Kellyanne Conway’s ethics violations.
Sources:
1. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/829356871848951809
2. New York Times, "Kellyanne Conway Promotes Ivanka Trump Brand, Raising Ethics Concerns," February 9, 2017.