Walter Shaub, Jr., speaks with CBS News in his first television interview since announcing his resignation from his position as director of the Office of Government Ethics
In a conversation with CBS News Thursday, Walter Shaub, Jr., spoke about his resignation from his position as director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) .
« Do you think the president and his family are using the office to enrich themselves? » CBS News’ Julianna Goldman asked Shaub.
« I can’t know what their intention is, » Shaub said. « I know that the effect is that there’s an appearance that the businesses are profiting from his occupying the presidency. And appearance matters as much as reality. So even aside from whether or not that’s actually happening, we need to send a message to the world that the United States is gonna have the gold standard for an ethics program in government, which is what we’ve always had. »
« But at this point it sounds like you’re saying you can’t be sure, » Goldman said.
« You can’t be sure, and so it almost doesn’t matter whether they are profiting or not, » Shaub continued. « America should have the right to know what the motivations of its leaders are, and they need to know that financial interests, personal financial interests, aren’t among them. »
This is the OGE director’s first television interview since announcing his resignation earlier Thursday. You can see more tonight on « CBS Evening News » and tomorrow on « CBS This Morning. »
Shaub announced that he will resign before the end of his term, effective Wednesday, July 19. In his resignation letter, Shaub called it the « great privilege and honor of my career » to lead the OGE staff.
Shaub, an Obama appointee, was already in his fifth and final year of the job, but his term was not scheduled to end until January 2018.
The White House issued a statement on Shaub’s resignation Thursday afternoon.
« The White House accepts Mr. Shaub’s resignation and appreciates his service, » the statement read. « The President will be nominating a successor in short order. »
In an interview with NPR, Shaub said he will be taking a new job at The Campaign Legal Center, a group that aims to strengthen democracy and improve ethics in government.
