Sarah Sanders Blasted for Using Official White House Twitter Account to Attack Amazon’s Alexa
Possible Violation of Federal Administrative Law
Sarah Huckabee Sanders is being blasted for using her official White House Twitter account to attack a U.S. company’s product in a personal dispute. On Sunday the White House press secretary took to Twitter to complain her two-year old son repeatedly yelled “Batman!” and Amazon’s Alexa ordered the product for him.
Alexa, we have a problem if my 2 year old can order a Batman toy by yelling “Batman!” over and over again into the Echo pic.twitter.com/7uF0d2fmD8
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) January 14, 2018
It is yet another example of an out-of-control White House that has no regard for its ethical responsibilities, and that uses the White House for personal gain.
Here’s what the former Director of the Office of Government Ethics had to say:
If you were a low-level staffer with no press duties in a big department, @PressSec, your boss might just stroll into your office and ask you to delete this. But you’re not that. Employees throughout govt look to you to set an example because tone from the top matters. Do better.
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) January 14, 2018
On Twitter, many blasted Huckabee Sanders for her lack of ethics.
Disparaging a private company over an official White House account is a big ethical no-no.
I know it is quaint to think that ethics are still a thing. But this tweet is the sort of thing that happens when the White House just doesn’t give a fuck. https://t.co/K7T8mgpApA
— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) January 14, 2018
How very interesting that you use your official Twitter to disparage a company that your boss has massive problems with because Jeff Bezos also owns the Washington Post. Do you get a bonus for that? #whatethics?
— nwhepcat (@nwhepcat) January 15, 2018
When you wake up tomorrow please call your Senators and Congressmen/women and ask them:
Why the F is Sarah Sanders allowed to use taxpayer dollars to complain about Alexa.
— ALTWASONPS (@AltWASONPS) January 15, 2018
Another WH ETHICS VIOLATION: Under 5 cfr 2635.702 et seq., @pressec can’t use public resources (here her official Twitter account) to benefit or harm a private business. I am sure it is just a coincidence that it is one owned by her boss’s arch-enemy Bezos. cc: @OfficeGovEthics https://t.co/FFFC2fCa3R
— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) January 14, 2018
Alexa, can you track @PressSec inappropriate use of an official Twitter account? Thanks.
— 🌪ï¸IAmTheStorm🌪ï¸ðŸŒŠ (@traciemom) January 14, 2018
Should high ranking White House officials have internet connected microphones in their homes? And should they announce it to the world via their official Twitter accounts?
— Ryan (@ryanwithay) January 15, 2018
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