White House ethics boss quits with dig at the chief

THE head of the US government’s ethics office, who has clashed frequently with Donald Trump, resigned last night with a parting shot that “improvements need to be made”.

Walter Shaub, director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), had been an outspoken critic of the US president over potential for conflicts of interest involving his business affairs.

Mr Shaub, who also served during the administrations of Barack Obama and George W Bush, will step down on July 19, six months before the end of his term.

He said: “In working with the current administration, it has become clear to me that we need improvements to the existing ethics programme.”

The OGE was established in 1978 to offer guidance to government officials on avoiding conflicts of interest.

In January Mr Shaub was critical of the president’s decision not to sell off his global business empire, instead handing over leadership to two of his sons.

At the time, Mr Shaub said that did not “meet the standards” set by previous presidents over the last four decades. Mr Shaub also pressed unsuccessfully for the White House to punish Kellyanne Conway, Mr Trump’s counsellor, for promoting Ivanka Trump’s fashion line.

In his resignation letter Mr Shaub said: “The great privilege and honour of my career has been to lead OGE’S staff and the community of ethics officials in the federal executive branch.

“They are committed to protecting the principle that public service is a public trust, requiring employees to place loyalty to the constitution, the laws, and ethical principals above private gain.”

Mr Shaub will join the Campaign Legal Center in Washington, which focuses on violations of campaign finance law. He told The Washington Post there had been no pressure from the White House for him to leave.

Trevor Potter, chairman of the Campaign Legal Center, and former Republican chairman of the Federal Election Commission, said: “Walt, in serving the American public at the OGE under three presidents, has demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and integrity.”