Key facts
- Donald Trump gave three aides, including Natalie Harp, Chamberlain Harris, and Margo Martin, cash gifts of $45,000 each.
- The gifts amounted to 30% of each aide's $150,000 annual salary.
- The aides reported the payments as a 'cash gift for holiday' on their financial disclosure forms.
- A watchdog group, the Campaign Legal Center, filed a complaint with the US Office of Government Ethics.
- Former White House ethics official Norm Eisen suggested the payments may violate federal conflict of interest statute 18 USC 209.
- Walt Nauta, director of Oval Office operations, received a $20,000 gift from Trump.
President Donald Trump may have violated federal ethics regulations by giving cash gifts totaling $45,000 each to three aides, according to a former White House ethics official. The Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan watchdog group, has filed a complaint with the US Office of Government Ethics, arguing that an investigation is warranted.
Norm Eisen, a former special counsel to Barack Obama for ethics and government reform, stated that the payments could be a breach of federal statute 18 USC 209, which prohibits executive branch employees from receiving payments beyond their salary for performing official duties. The aides — Natalie Harp, Chamberlain Harris, and Margo Martin — reported the money as a 'cash gift for holiday' on their financial disclosure forms. These payments represented 30% of each aide's $150,000 annual salary.
The White House has denied that the payments constitute an ethical breach. However, Eisen countered that the denials are difficult to believe, emphasizing the significant sums involved. James Thurber, another ethics specialist, described the payments as 'legal but totally unethical,' adding that such actions are 'nothing new for Trump.'
Kedric Payne of the Campaign Legal Center stressed the importance of laws preventing supplemental income for government employees to ensure their focus remains on public service. He stated that an investigation is clearly warranted and should be referred to the Department of Justice if a violation is found. The statute in question carries penalties including fines or imprisonment for both the giver and recipients of illicit payments.
Harp, described as a close personal aide, has recently faced scrutiny for her close relationship with Trump. Martin, a communications adviser, films Trump's daily activities for social media, while Harris, an executive assistant, was appointed to the US Commission of Fine Arts. Additionally, Walt Nauta, director of Oval Office operations, received a $20,000 gift from Trump.