Trump granted at least 16 White House staffers ethics waivers: report

Source: The Hill | May 31, 2017 | Max Greenwood

President Trump has granted at least 16 members of his White House staff waivers to work in areas in which they previously lobbied or to interact with colleagues from their past jobs, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

The number of waivers granted is more than five times the number issued in the first four months of former President Barack Obama‘s administration. 

Among those given waivers were Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, who most recently served as chairman of the Republican National Committee and continues to interact with the organization in his White House job, and Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, a former pollster and GOP strategist.

A number of former lobbyists were granted waivers, as well. For example, Shahira Knight, a special assistant to the president for tax and retirement policy, previously lobbied for Fidelity Investments, according to the Times. And Andrew Olmem, a special assistant to the president for financial policy, previously lobbied for companies like American Express and MetLife.

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  • Consistent May 31, 2017 at 11:33 pm #16282

    Consistent June 1, 2017 at 10:06 am #16292


    Chief Strategist Stephen Bannon was executive chairman of the conservative website Breitbart before joining the Trump campaign last year. Under the waiver, he is free to engage with Breitbart even when some news organizations are excluded.

    “The Administration has an interest in interacting with news organizations on issues of importance to the Administration. It is important that all appointees be able to communicate and meet with news organizations, and disqualification from such meetings or communications would limit the ability of the White House Office to effectively carry out Administration priorities,” McGahn wrote.

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