Ethics watchdog says Karine Jean-Pierre’s CNN journalist partner Suzanne Malveaux could be a ‘conflict of interest’ for the White House and again demands Biden administration be ‘transparent’ on Psaki’s reported negotiations with MSNBC
- May 6, 2022
Ethics group is doubling down on their calls for the Biden White House to be the ‘most transparent in history’
Wills Robinson and Harriet Alexander, Daily Mail
An ethics group is doubling down on their calls for the Biden White House to be the ‘most transparent in history’ by releasing all ethics documents relating to new press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and her conversations with ethics officials over potential conflicts of interest with her CNN journalist partner.
Karine Jean-Pierre, 44, who takes over from Jen Psaki on May 13 after serving as her deputy, is a partner of CNN’s national correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, 55, and the pair share a seven-year-old daughter, Soleil.
There are now questions over whether the network embroiled in months of scandal will offer impartial coverage and there is still mounting criticism over Psaki’s potential move to MSNBC when she leaves the White House as press secretary next week.
Michael Chamberlain, Director of ethics watchdog Protect the Public’s Trust, told DailyMail.com on Friday: ‘Restrictions regarding conflicts of interest for political appointees are imputed on the appointee’s spouse.
‘Regardless of the legal status of her relationship with Malveaux, given Jean-Pierre’s unique role with the media, this certainly presents the appearance of a potential conflict of interest.
‘If the Biden Administration is going to be true to their pledges to be the most ethical and most transparent in history, they should feel an obligation to go beyond the minimum legal requirements for disclosure and release all of Ms. Jean-Pierre’s ethics documents as well as the related conversations with ethics officials.
‘Protect the Public’s Trust called for this transparency with respect to Ms. Psaki’s post-government employment search as well.’