The Trump transition team is now in open-war against a federal ethics office as questions of impropriety continue to loom over the President-elect and his nominees.
Incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus warned Office of Government Ethics Director Walter Schaub on Sunday to “be careful” about raising concerns over the many conflicts-of-interest attached to the incoming President of the United States.
In a notice last Friday to all executive branch employees, but subtly directed at the President-elect, Schaub had reminded the workforce about rules against misusing their position.
The framework includes prohibitions against exploiting government property, relying on non-public information for financial dealings, and endorsing “any product, service, or company.”
The day before Schaub issued his “Director’s Note,” Trump, endorsed a clothing company owned by a contributor and supporter of his campaign.
“Thank you to Linda Bean of L.L.Bean for your great support and courage. People will support you even more now. Buy L.L.Bean,” Trump tweeted last week.
The Associated Press reported that Bean had made an illegal $60,000 donation to a pro-Trump PAC, and is now under the scrutiny of the Federal Elections Commission.
During an event at the Brookings Institution last week, Schaub also criticized Trump’s plans to buck his myriad of conflicts of interest by signing over his business holdings to his two sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, instead of fully divesting.
“I don’t think divestiture is too high a price to pay to be president of the United States of America,” Schaub stated.
Priebus fired back on Sunday, saying that he was “not so sure what this person at Government Ethics, what sort of standing he has anymore in giving these opinions.”
Schaub, who was appointed by President Obama, is currently serving the fourth year of a five-year term as the Director of government ethics.
Trump has received the support of a prominent Republican lawmaker to assist in his campaign against ethics watchdogs.
Chairman of the House Government Oversight Committee, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) wrote a letter to Schaub last week accusing the ethics office of engaging in public relations. Chaffetz also warned that his committee may investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, a separate oversight body—the Office of Congressional Ethics—is being asked to open a review of the President-elect’s nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services.
In a statement on Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for the oversight body to examine HHS nominee Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) for potential violation of the STOCK Act.
CNN reported Monday that Price, a Congressman, bought as much as $15,000 in shares of a medical device company last March, just days before he introduced legislation to delay regulations that would have financially harmed the company.
“This report and his previous trades cast serious doubt on whether Congressman Price is fit to hold the office of Secretary for Health and Human Services,” Schumer said.
Price’s confirmation hearing is set for Wednesday.
Concerns have also been lodged against other Trump nominees who have yet to have the Office of Government Ethics certify their financial disclosures. Earlier this month, Schaub informed Senate Democratic leaders that Republicans were too hastily proceeding with confirmation hearings before his office had time to conduct a full ethics review.
Schaub said the GOP’s confirmation schedule “has created undue pressure on OGE’s staff and agency ethics officials to rush through these important reviews.”
