Newsday: Experts: Mnuchin’s ‘Batman’ promotion may be ethics violation
“It’s surprising he would treat it like a joke,” said Larry Noble, senior director and general counsel of the Campaign Legal Center. “He’s actually promoting his own business.”
Noble and other ethics experts said Mnuchin’s statements, coupled with another administration official’s product endorsement, seemed to indicate a flippant attitude toward ethics.
White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway gave a self-described “free commercial” in February during a TV interview for Ivanka Trump’s products. The White House later said she has since been counseled on ethics requirements for federal officials.
“It reflects a lack of concern for the ethics rules,” Noble added. “Sometimes these seem like minor things, but they’re not.”