Skip to main content

FM
Former Member

Ex-White House ethics chief: Sarah Sanders tweet violates ethics laws

Morgan Gstalter, June 24, 2018, http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/...r-AAz4mJQ?li=AAggFp5

a person posing for the camera© Provided by The Hill

The former director of the Office of Government Ethics said on Saturday that White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders's decision to tweet about being kicked out of a Virginia restaurant violated ethics laws.

Sanders was asked to leave the Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Va., on Friday night, but confirmed the incident in a Saturday morning tweet.

"Last night I was told by the owner of Red Hen in Lexington, VA to leave because I work for [President Trump] and I politely left," Sanders tweeted. "Her actions say far more about her than about me. I always do my best to treat people, including those I disagree with, respectfully and will continue to do so."

Sarah Sanders @PressSec

Last night I was told by the owner of Red Hen in Lexington, VA to leave because I work for @POTUS and I politely left. Her actions say far more about her than about me. I always do my best to treat people, including those I disagree with, respectfully and will continue to do so

Walter Shaub, the federal government's former top ethics watchdog, tweeted that Sanders's response, which was made from her official White House account, was a clear violation of federal law.

"Sarah, I know you don't care even a tiny little bit about the ethics rules, but using your official account for this is a clear violation of 5 CFR 2635.702(a)," Shaub tweeted Saturday, referencing the law that states government employees cannot use public office for private gain.

"It's the same as if an ATF agent pulled out his badge when a restaurant tried to throw him/her out," he added.

Walter Shaub @waltshaub

Sarah, I know you don’t care even a tiny little bit about the ethics rules, but using your official account for this is a clear violation of 5 CFR 2635.702(a). It’s the same as if an ATF agent pulled out his badge when a restaurant tried to throw him/her out.

Sarah Sanders @PressSec

Last night I was told by the owner of Red Hen in Lexington, VA to leave because I work for @POTUS and I politely left. Her actions say far more about her than about me. I always do my best to treat people, including those I disagree with, respectfully and will continue to do so

The tweet also violated the endorsements ban, Shaub argued, since Sanders's tweet was "an obvious corollary for discouraging patronage."

Walter Shaub @waltshaub

Sanders used her official govt account to condemn a private business for personal reasons. Seeks to coerce business by using her office to get public to pressure it. Violates endorsements ban too, which has an obvious corollary for discouraging patronage. Misuse reg covers both.

"She can lob attacks on her own time but not using her official position," he added in another tweet.

Walter Shaub
@waltshaub

Sanders used her official govt account to condemn a private business for personal reasons. Seeks to coerce business by using her office to get public to pressure it. Violates endorsements ban too, which has an obvious corollary for discouraging patronage. Misuse reg covers both.

Walter Shaub
@waltshaub
Opening sentences of 5 CFR 2635.702 cover both; 702(a) gives example of coercion; 702(c) gives example of endorsement. Also 2635.101(b)(8) bars preferential treatment, with obvious corollary for singling out. She can lob attacks on her own time but not using her official position

Stephanie Wilkinson, the co-owner of the restaurant, said she asked Sanders and her family to leave because of previous comments she had made defending the Trump administration's ban on transgender military members.

The restaurant employs several LGBT employees, some of whom voiced concerns over having to serve Sanders, Wilkinson told The Washington Post.

"I'm not a huge fan of confrontation," Wilkinson added. "I have a business, and I want the business to thrive. This feels like the moment in our democracy when people have to make uncomfortable actions and decisions to uphold their morals."

Wilkinson blasted the Trump administration as "inhuman and unethical."

Shaub, who had previously clashed with Trump over the president's business interests, resigned last year, leaving office nearly six months before the end of his term.

He frequently criticizes the Trump administration and called on another Trump spokeswoman, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, to be fired for violating the Hatch Act.

 

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Bibi Haniffa posted:
Demerara_Guy posted:

Perhaps, she is unaware of the basic principles of issues for official and personal ones.

Perhaps she is the sharpest female Press Secretary on Planet Earth.

Oh shit!!!!!!!!

FM
Prince posted:

I agree. Two guys came and gone, but Sarah Sanders is sharp, upbeat and held on to her job against all odds. I salute her courage.

She is not pleasing to the eye. Besides she is also a compulsive Christian educated liar.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Bibi Haniffa posted:
Demerara_Guy posted:

Perhaps, she is unaware of the basic principles of issues for official and personal ones.

Perhaps she is the sharpest female Press Secretary on Planet Earth.

She is soooo sharp she has to regurgitate Trump's daily lies as part of her job. I pity her.

cain
Bibi Haniffa posted:
Demerara_Guy posted:

Perhaps, she is unaware of the basic principles of issues for official and personal ones.

Perhaps she is the sharpest female Press Secretary on Planet Earth.

Image result for emoticons  Image result for emoticons

Perhaps, sooooooooo smart on her personal planet Earth.

FM

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×