Steve Bannon has a shadow press office. It may violate federal law.

[factfinder_77]

Source: publicintegrity

In an arrangement prominent ethics experts say is without precedent and potentially illegal, the White House is referring questions for senior presidential adviser Stephen K. Bannon to an outside public relations agent whose firm says she is working for free.

Alexandra Preate, a 46-year-old New Yorker and veteran Republican media strategist, describes herself as Bannon's "personal spokesperson." But she also collaborates with other White House officials on public messaging and responses to press inquiries. It was Preate who responded when the Center for Public Integrity recently asked the White House Press Office questions about Bannon.

Preate, however, is not employed by President Donald Trump’s administration or paid by the federal government.

The unorthodox setup means Bannon, Trump's chief strategist, is potentially violating the Antideficiency Act, which provides that federal employees "may not accept voluntary services for [the] government or employ personal services exceeding that authorized by law."

The revelations about Preate's work are the latest controversy to embroil the White House Communications Office, which is reeling from a series of high-profile resignations, firings and leadership changes in recent days.

Read more: https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/07/27/21014/steve-bannon-has-shadow-press-office-it-may-violate-federal-law

[kimbutgar]

1. Unfortunately who is going to enforce this

Chump is dismantling our government agencies and Bannonwill get away with it. There will be no outrage in the rethug congress nor public condemnation.

We really live in bizarre unethical and unlawful times times now

[Volaris]

2. He's outsourcing it, the way any good corporate CEO of Communications would.

Bannon has always been a hateful little Randian, this kinda proves it. I wonder if hes ever consider that he's made his bones railing against the very existence of the government he rails against...that if he ever succeeds in his dream, he would go broke in about 6 months from lack of a lucrative target. He better stock up on the cheap whiskey while his drunky-ass can...

[cos dem]

3. I love these statements "MAY violate the law"

Of course it violates the law. I doubt they do anything unless they're sure it violates the law in some way. Since no one will hold them accountable, they love to flout the law. Makes them feel powerful.

[Sunlei]

4. "whose firm says she is working for free". Like Manafort worked as volunteer, free for campaign.?

sure works for free for our government & our elections..

[mr_lebowski]

5. Still a bit blown away that Bannon appears to be taking Mooch's 'sucking his own d**k' comment ...

... lying down.

If I was him, I'd be in Dump's face, going all 'It's HIM, or ME ... PERIOD! I flat-out refuse to work with that little PoS mofo!'

But ... thus far ... he appears to be wussing out entirely.

Pretty pathetic if you ask me.

Time to MAN UP, BANNON!