Trump White House Is Forcing Interns to Sign NDAs and Threatening Them With Financial Ruin

[yortsed snacilbuper]

When the Trump White House welcomed its newest batch of interns earlier this year, the director of the internship program, Zoe Jackman, did what administration officials normally do when fresh blood arrives: She warned them against being “leakers.”

Soon enough, according to three sources familiar with the process, a representative from the White House counsel’s office materialized to greet the newcomers, and to demand what the Trump White House has required of so many other interns and senior officials.

Upon orientation, the interns signed their very own non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), with the envoy of the counsel’s office warning them that a breach of the NDA — blabbing to the media, for instance — could result in legal, and thus financial, consequences for them. Interns were also told that they would not receive their own copies, these sources said.

link

[MagickMuffin]

1. Interns were also told that they would not receive their own copies, these sources said

Gee I wonder why they can't have their own copies?

Cowards each and everyone of them.

[Bonx]

2. Looks like Congress does this too

Exclusive: Congress requires many unpaid interns to sign nondisclosure agreements

"For unpaid interns on Capitol Hill, secrecy is so much a part of the job that on their first day, many are required to sign sweeping nondisclosure agreements.

Employment lawyers reviewed two Hill NDAs obtained by Vox and said they are written in a way that could discourage interns from speaking up about anything, potentially protecting members of Congress and their staff even in cases of harassment or abuse.

“[Interns] are going to read it and think, ‘I can’t say anything to anyone or I’m going to be sued,’” said Alexis Ronickher, an employment lawyer at Katz, Marshall & Banks.

The NDAs came from a Democratic House office and a Democratic Senate office. Four lawyers reviewed the agreements and said some of the requirements looked standard but others did not."

https://www.vox.com/2018/3/5/17066728/exclusive-congress-requires-many-unpaid-interns-to-sign-nondisclosure-agreements

[LanternWaste]

7. Congress allows a copy to the interns.

[Bonx]

9. The white house doesn't?

Don't see that in the linked article from the OP.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

13. Upon orientation, the interns signed their very own non-disclosure agreements (NDAs),

Interns were also told that they would not receive their own copies.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-white-house-is-forcing-interns-to-sign-ndas-and-threatening-them-with-financial-ruin/ar-BBTTfNW?ocid=spartanntp

[Bonx]

17. I see it now. Thanks.

It would nice to know if this is true beyond 'these sources said.'. Not giving them a copy doesn't sound legal, but I'm no lawyer.

[democratisphere]

3. What would anyone expect from a true bungling mob criminal enterprise.

Interns should have said FU and left.

[Hugin]

4. Of course they are...

Yet, the Senate and the Republicans do nothing.

[Autumn]

8. Because their interns also have to sign a NDA is probably why they do nothing.

[marybourg]

5. If they are paid by the government,

these are null and void. Their duty is to the people of the U.S., not to tRump and they are priveliged to report what they see.

[WillowTree]

10. White House interns are not paid.

[GoCubsGo]

6. Got to wonder if any of those interns had the brains to turn around and walk right out of there.

I doubt it, but it's beyond me why anyone in their right mind would want to be a part of that shit. Granted, I thoroughly doubt that any of them are in their right mind.

[nini]

11. I would assume any employee signs a NDA

I do at my job.

However, using those as a threat of some kind is no bueno.

And I hope anyone who knows of illegal activities does not honor it.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

12. rump stops to greet interns at the White House on April 5, 2018

The interns worship trump.

[lame54]

14. How is ANYONE STILL working there

[yortsed snacilbuper]

15. That's what I would like to know?

It doesn't seems like it would help your career!

[lame54]

19. Or your conscience

[gratuitous]

18. It's a screening process

Trump wants only the truest of true believers signing up. Get them to sign the agreement while they're still in the "Holy socks, I'm working in the White House for the greatest president ever!" stage, and you've cornered them. Later, when the shine has worn off and the soul-sucking evil has these interns in its grasp, their only option is to quit and hope for a decent referral. Otherwise, just leave that as a gap in your resume and hope prospective employers never ask you about it.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

20. Once you lie for trump,

he owns you!

[lame54]

21. The ONLY reason I can think of...

Is if your tell all book is incomplete

[Azathoth]

16. This is just outright intimidation. Who's going to enforce these?

Not only is it illegal to prevent people from talking to Congress, but Trump doesn't get to append his personal business shenanigans to federal hiring practices. This kind of shit even crosses into blatant First Amendment violations.