Ivanka Trump to take unpaid federal job as her father's assistant

Ms Trump took the step to deflect criticism from ethics experts

Andrew Buncombe
New York
Wednesday 29 March 2017 21:40 BST
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Ivanka Trump, pictured with her father, President Donald Trump. His speech on women's empowerment has raised eyebrows, given that his 24-strong Cabinet includes only four women
Ivanka Trump, pictured with her father, President Donald Trump. His speech on women's empowerment has raised eyebrows, given that his 24-strong Cabinet includes only four women

I​vanka Trump, the elder daughter of the president, is to become an unpaid government employee - serving as an advisor her father.

Ms Trump, 35, already has an office in the West Wing, and has long been someone inextricably associated to a number of her father’s policy decisions.

But amid criticism from ethics experts that occupying a voluntary role would permit her to avoid some of the usual rules and disclosures, it has been decided she will instead become a federal employee - albeit an unpaid one, according to the New York Times.

“I have heard the concerns some have with my advising the president in my personal capacity while voluntarily complying with all ethics rules, and I will instead serve as an unpaid employee in the White House office, subject to all of the same rules as other federal employees,” Ms Trump said in a statement.

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“Throughout this process I have been working closely and in good faith with the White House counsel and my personal counsel to address the unprecedented nature of my role.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Tom Carper of Delaware, sent a letter to Office of Government Ethics Director Walter Shaub information on the first daughter’s compliance with federal ethics rules, Politico said.

In addition to joining her father, Ms Trump, will become part of a team of which her husband, Jared Kushner, is a central part.

Mr Kushner, whose background is in real estate, like Mr Trump, has risen to become one of the most trusted members of the president’s inner circle.

“We are pleased that Ivanka Trump has chosen to take this step in her unprecedented role as First Daughter and in support of the President,” said a spokeswoman for the president.

“Ivanka’s service as an unpaid employee furthers our commitment to ethics, transparency, and compliance and affords her increased opportunities to lead initiatives driving real policy benefits for the American public that would not have been available to her previously.”

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