White House aide Natalie Harp, right, looks after President Donald Trump, left. (AP Photo)
US President Donald Trump gave USD 45,000 (about Rs 42 lakh) in cash holiday gifts to three White House aides, including executive assistant Natalie Harp, according to newly released financial disclosures. Another senior aide received USD 20,000 (about Rs 19 lakh).
Earlier reporting noted: Trump gave $45,000 holiday gifts to Natalie Harp, two other White House aides President Donald Trump gave sizable holiday gifts to four White House aides, according to new financial disclosures released by the administration. Earlier reporting noted: The gifts of $45,000 each to Executive Assistant Natalie Harp, Communications Adviser Margo Martin, and Deputy Director of Oval Office operations Chamberlain Harris as well as a $20,000 gift for director of Oval Office operations Walt Nauta were noted in the staffers’ annual financial disclosure forms that were published by the administration last week. Harris make $150,000 annually and Mr. Nauta is paid $175,000 a year, according to the White House’s salary disclosure report to Congress.
Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer under President George W Bush, told The Washington Post that the payments appeared to raise concerns under a federal law restricting supplementation of federal employees’ salaries. However, former acting Office of Government Ethics director Don Fox said the available facts did not establish that the payments violated the law. He said the circumstances and intent behind the gifts could determine whether they amounted to salary supplementation.
The size of the gifts has prompted scrutiny over federal rules governing additional compensation for government employees. Harp, Ms. Martin and Ms.
Earlier reporting noted: Ms.
White House defends Trump’s cash gifts
Harp, Martin and Harris each earn USD 150,000 annually, while Nauta’s salary is USD 175,000, according to the White House’s salary disclosure report to Congress. The official said the gifts were unrelated to the aides’ official government duties and were therefore permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards.
A White House official said Trump has a longstanding practice of giving Christmas gifts to people in his orbit, including employees and aides, both during his time in government and in the private sector.