Kellyanne Conway Endorses Ivanka Trump Products on TV, a Possible Ethics Violation
The controversy comes as Nordstrom and other retailers have dropped the first daughter's fashion line.
Kellyanne Conway came to the defense of Ivanka Trump in a bizarre endorsement of her products during a live TV interview after Nordstrom and other major retailers dropped the first daughter's fashion line.
“Go buy Ivanka’s stuff, is what I would say. I hate shopping. I'm going to buy stuff today,” Conway told Fox & Friends Thursday morning from the White House briefing room. “It’s a wonderful line. I own some of it. I'm going to give a free commercial here. Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online."
Following the declaration from one of Donald Trump’s top advisers, some have contended that the very public endorsement may have violated ethics laws.
Ethics lawyers and Democratic lawmakers have since called for an investigation, according to CNN.
In addition, the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has asked for the Office of Government Ethics and the White House counsel's office to look into the "apparent violation of law" and to "take any necessary discipline against [Conway]."
At the White House daily briefing Thursday afternoon, Press Secretary Sean Spicer addressed the situation.
“Kellyanne has been counseled and that's all I’m gonna say,” he said.
Conway's comments came a day after President Trump tweeted about Nordstrom nixing his eldest daughter's fashion line, saying: "My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @nordstrom."
My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017
Nordstrom is standing by its decision, and denying that it was motivated by politics.
"Sales of the brand have steadily declined to the point where it didn't make good business sense for us to continue with the line for now," the retail giant said in a statement.
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