Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said Ms. Conway’s comments were “wrong, wrong, wrong,
and there’s no excuse for it.” Mr. Chaffetz — who so far had not acted on calls since Election Day to investigate ethics issues related to Mr. Trump — and the panel’s ranking Democrat, Elijah Cummings, formally asked the Office of Government Ethics for an inquiry.
Of Mr. Trump’s aides, Mr. Painter said, “Instead of trying to push him back on
this, they’re jumping in this and shilling for the businesses alongside him.”
Nordstrom, one of several retailers to reduce or eliminate its ties to Ms. Trump’s line of clothes, jewelry
and accessories, said its decision to do so was based purely on sales performance.
WASHINGTON — The White House on Thursday “counseled” Kellyanne Conway, one of President Trump’s top advisers, in an unusual
show of displeasure after she urged consumers to buy fashion products marketed by Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter.
“She was speaking on behalf of the White House, in her official position, which makes it more serious.”
Richard W. Painter, chief ethics counsel under President George W. Bush, said
Ms. Conway’s conduct would not have been tolerated in that administration.