President Donald Trump's counselor Kellyanne Conway violated ethical standards when she encouraged the public to purchase the first daughter's clothing line, according to the director of the Office of Government Ethics.
"Under the present circumstances, there is strong reason to believe that Ms. Conway has violated the Standards of Conduct Act and that disciplinary action is warranted," Walter Schaub wrote Tuesday in a letter to White House deputy counsel Stefan Passantino, which was tweeted Tuesday by Democrats on the House oversight committee.
"Go buy Ivanka's stuff, is what I would tell you. . . . I hate shopping, but I'm going to go get some for myself today," Conway said in a TV interview after Nordstrom announced they would no longer sell Ivanka Trump's clothing line. "I'm going to give it a free commercial here, go buy it today."
Straub points out because Conway conducted the interview from the White House press briefing room, "she was unquestionably appearing in her official capacity. She used that interview, however, as an opportunity to market Ms. Trump's products."
He also noted "OGE's regulation on misuse of position offers as an example the hypothetical case of a presidential appointee appearing in a television commercial to promote a product. Ms. Conway's actions track that example almost exactly; therefore, I recommend that the White House investigate Ms. Conway's actions and consider taking disciplinary action against her."
White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters last week Conway "has been counseled," according to The Hill, but did not mention if she had been, or would be, disciplined.
Shaub asked White House lawyers to respond by Feb. 28.
A top White House aide defended Conway on Sunday. Trump policy adviser Stephen Miller told ABC's "This Week" she was making a "light-hearted, flippant" comment when she urged Americans to buy Ivanka Trump's products.
Reuters contributed to this report.