Federal Government Policy and Business

Ethics watchdog Walter Shaub leaving federal government

CNN: The ethics watchdog who has badgered the Trump administration for months about conflicts of interest says he is leaving the federal government. Walter Shaub, director of the previously little-known Office of Government Ethics, made a name for himself by criticizing the administration repeatedly, most notably over Trump's refusal to sell his business interests. He also took presidential aide Kellyanne Conway to task for plugging Ivanka Trump products in a live TV interview, and he raised doubts about ethics waivers that the White House granted to its own employees. Shaub said on Twitter that he is taking a job at the Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group for tougher campaign finance laws. In a statement released by the center, Shaub said he would work on ethics reform at all levels of government. "In working with the current administration, it has become clear to me that we need improvements to the existing ethics program," he said. The resignation is effective July 19. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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