Psaki’s reported MSNBC deal fraught with ethical landmines, experts say
- April 4, 2022
Andrew Kerr, Washington Examiner
Reports that White House press secretary Jen Psaki will soon leave government service to join MSNBC as a pundit raise serious ethical concerns, multiple experts told the Washington Examiner.
Rumors have circulated for months that Psaki has been courted by MSNBC and CNN as she simultaneously worked with the outlets as President Joe Biden’s chief liaison to the press. Those rumors came to a head Friday when Axios reported that Psaki was in “exclusive talks” with MSNBC to become a network pundit and to host a show on NBC’s online streaming platform around May.
Michael Chamberlain, the director of the conservative watchdog group Protect the Public’s Trust, also said Psaki should recuse herself from matters involving prospective future employers.
“When active negotiations, which certainly includes a bidding war, are ongoing, there is a duty to recuse from certain particular matters involving the prospective employer. Protect the Public’s Trust will be looking into this to ensure all the proper procedures and protocols were followed,” Chamberlain said.