White House press Secretary Jen Psaki dismissed ethics concerns regarding reports of her negotiating with MSNBC for a future job while still working in a public service capacity for the White House, claiming she has undergone “rigorous ethics counseling.”
CBS correspondent Ed O’Keefe asked Psaki on Friday if she plans to take a job with partisan corporate outlet MSNBC after serving in the Biden administration.
“I have nothing to confirm about my length of public service or planned service or anything about consideration about next plans,” Psaki replied. “Um, I am very happy to be standing with all of you here today after it felt like a never ending, endless time in my basement, quarantining away from my family, believe it or not i missed you all a lot.”
CBS's @EdOKeefe: "[I]s it ethical for you to conduct this job while negotiating with a media outlet?"
Psaki: "Well, I have always gone over and above the stringent ethical and legal requirements…I take that very seriously…I have received rigorous ethics counseling[.]" pic.twitter.com/0dENtRPwLn
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 1, 2022
NBC's Kristen Welker to future colleague, Jen Psaki: "Given the reports…how can you continue be an effective briefer if you…have plans to join a media outlet?"
Psaki says she has "nothing…to announce" and any departure would start with sleep and time with her kids. pic.twitter.com/Nkpm2sELxp
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 1, 2022
Welker: "Broadly speaking, is it the policy of this WH to have staffers have discussions even if indirectly with institutions that impact & affect their jobs & your job here?"
Psaki says she's "abided by every component" of WH policy on future employment (6/6) pic.twitter.com/jn1GnXAXkV
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 1, 2022
“Um, and my focus, um, everyday continues to be speaking on behalf of the President, answering your questions, as tough as they may be, as difficult at many times, and uh, I hope that I meet my own bar of treating everybody with fairness and being equitable,” Psaki continued.
When asked if she believed it was ethical to be negotiating for a job with MSNBC while still serving the public as a spokesperson for the Biden administration, Biden dismissed these concerns by claiming she has received “rigorous ethics counseling.”
Psaki continued to downplay ethics concerns in responses to several follow-up questions.
“Broadly speaking, is it the policy of this White House to have staffers have discussions, even if indirectly, with institutions that impact and affect their jobs and your job here?” an NBC reporter asked.
Psaki responded by claiming she has “abided by every component” of White House protocol on seeking future employment.
