CNN: White House Scolded Four Cabinet Leaders Over Ethics Scandals

U.S. President Donald Trump conducts a meeting with state and local officials to unveil his administration's long-awaited infrastructure plan in the State Dining Room at the White House February 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. The $1.5 trillion plan to repair and rebuild the nation's crumbling highways, bridges, railroads, airports, seaports and water systems is funded with $200 million in federal money with the remaining 80 percent coming from state and local governments.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke listens to local and state officials during a meeting where U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his administration's long-awaited infrastructure plan in t... WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke listens to local and state officials during a meeting where U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his administration's long-awaited infrastructure plan in the State Dining Room at the White House February 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. The $1.5 trillion plan to repair and rebuild the nation's crumbling highways, bridges, railroads, airports, seaports and water systems is funded with $200 million in federal money with the remaining 80 percent coming from state and local governments. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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The White House held meetings last month with four cabinet officials who have been the subjects of reports highlighting ethics questions, CNN reported Friday night, citing unnamed officials familiar with the meetings.

Officials in the White House counsel’s office and the cabinet liaison met with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, according to CNN.

The White House officials warned the cabinet leaders that even if their behavior is technically legal, it could still create bad optics, per CNN.

Zinke has come under scrutiny for his plane travel and reported spending on a $139,000 office door. Pruitt also faces scrutiny of his expensive travel habits, most recently his decision to fly first class for security reasons.

Carson cancelled an order for a $30,000 dining set for his office suite following reports revealing that the agency purchased the expensive new furniture, and he has faced allegations from HUD employees who are fearful that they will face retribution if they push back on agency orders.

Shulkin was scolded for telling Politico that he had permission to purge employees who he felt were out to get him, according to CNN.

Read the full report at CNN.

 

 

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Notable Replies

  1. Does this mean the White House thought the Four had ethics?

  2. Avatar for pshah pshah says:

    Um…who exactly in this Administration has the moral high ground to lecture anyone else on ethics? They must have outsourced this to a third party.

    Oh, and who get to scold Trump? I’d love to volunteer for that one, but it should be one or all of the nineteen women he harassed.

  3. “White House Scolds Four Cabinet Leaders Over Ethics.”

    Shorter Headline: “Pot Calls Kettles Black.”

  4. Avatar for sanni sanni says:

    Admit it - who else played a little ‘prediction’ game of guessing which 4, before reading the article.

    I know, too easy. Four for four.

  5. Were they scolded for being unethical?

    Or for being unethical in the light of day?

    My guess is the latter and they were handed working papers on how to be unethical without the public knowing.

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