— News and Commentary —

Former Obama Ethics Head: Sarah Sanders Blasting Red Hen Could Be Illegal

•

Jun 25, 2018 DailyWire.com

•

Former Obama admin ethics office head Walter Shaub has accused Sarah Huckabee Sanders of breaking the law by using her White House Twitter account to blast a restaurant that refused her service for political purposes.

Controversy erupted over the weekend when the White House press secretary attended the Red Hen restaurant in Virginia before being promptly asked to leave by the owner over disagreements in politics. Sarah Huckabee Sanders took to Twitter to share her experience:

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
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) June 23, 2018

Apparently, this action by Sanders was an illegal one due to it being on her government Twitter account. Walter Shaub, former head of the White House ethics office, called it a “clear violation” of federal ethics law. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) said the ethics office should investigate Sanders while speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

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. https://t.co/Fj6OfBAdew
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) June 23, 2018

Federal law 5 CFR 2635.702 “prohibits government employees from using their position for personal gain or for endorsing a product or business,” according to HuffPo. It also details that the “basic obligation of public service” requires that employees “shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual.”

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) June 23, 2018

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

— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) June 23, 2018

Her goal was transparently to get her fans to boycott or harass the restaurant, and that is exactly what has happened. If you were teaching ethics training, you’d never offer this as an example of what is acceptable. It’s like when Trump attacked Nordstrom.
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) June 24, 2018

Former Obama administration White House lawyer Ian Bassin agreed that Sanders violated the law. “We trained all staff they couldn’t use their WH titles or resources (like Twitter acct) for personal uses,” he tweeted.

When I was a WH lawyer we trained all staff they couldn’t use their WH titles or resources (like Twitter acct) for personal uses like making restaurant reservations or promoting businesses. So yes, this tweet violates federal ethics rules. I’m sure Don McGahn will remind her. https://t.co/2t2JCVb5B7
— Ian Bassin (@ianbassin) June 24, 2018

Think of it this way: if a rental car company screws up my reservation on my family vacation, I don’t get to use my public office at the WH to publicly shame them in the name of the United States govt. That’s a misuse of position.
— Ian Bassin (@ianbassin) June 24, 2018

These are the same people who think the iron fist of government should force Christian bakers to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding.

Menu