One of the most prominent senior advisers to President Donald Trump has violated the law by endorsing his daughter, Ivanka's, brands on live TV. On the Fox & Friends program, Kellyanne Conway openly discussed the President's tweet directed at Nordstrom - a retailer that recently dropped Ivanka Trump's products.
According to The Independent, the President's outburst on Twitter at the company in defense of his daughter was an "abuse" to the presidency. His public outburst was later on retweeted by none other than the official @POTUS account.
While speaking on live TV, Conway praised Ivanka Trump twice, calling her a "very successful businesswoman." She went as far as to add that she had "obviously stepped away from it now".A few moments later she is quoted to have said, "Go buy Ivanka's stuff, is what I would say."
The remarks made by Conway appear to have occurred with her standing within the White House press briefing room. She also added that it was a "wonderful line" and shared that she "owned some if it". She called her own remarks a "free commercial" and urged Fox viewers to "go buy it today".
The general counsel for the Campaign Legal Centre which is a nonpartisan organization based in Washington DC, Larry Noble, immediately raised the fact that she might have just broken the law.
Taking to Twitter, he said "Appears Kellayanne Conway may have just violated ban on Federal employee using public office for endorsement of product." The statute that Noble cited was 5 CFR 2635.702 and it directly discusses the "use of public office for private gain".
Part (c) of the statute states: "An employee shall not use or permit the use of his Government position or title or any authority associated with his public office to endorse any product, service or enterprise", save for very specific circumstances.
President Trump previously publicly lashed out against Nordstrom following its dropping of his daughter's apparel line. His tweet reads: "My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible".
Sean Spicer, the press secretary, added to that comment by stating his views that it was "less about his family business" and more of an "attack on his daughter".
The White House was approached for comment but none was available at the time of publication.
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