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Controversial tweets from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics that praised President-elect Donald Trump were approved by Director Walter M. Shaub personally, the Daily Dot reported Friday.
Through a Freedom of Information Act, the Daily Dot reported that Shaub sent an email ordering an OGE official to post the tweets. The series of tweets posted Nov. 30 applauded Trump for his supposed efforts to alleviate conflicts of interest with his businesses.
.@realDonaldTrump We can't repeat enough how good this total divestiture will be— U.S. OGE (@U.S. OGE) 1480528500.0
.@realDonaldTrump Brilliant! Divestiture is good for you, very good for America!— U.S. OGE (@U.S. OGE) 1480528500.0
.@realDonaldTrump OGE applauds the "total" divestiture decision. Bravo!— U.S. OGE (@U.S. OGE) 1480528500.0
.@realDonaldTrump OGE is delighted that you've decided to divest your businesses. Right decision!— U.S. OGE (@U.S. OGE) 1480528500.0
.@realDonaldTrump Bravo! Only way to resolve these conflicts of interest is to divest . Good call!— U.S. OGE (@U.S. OGE) 1480528501.0
.@realDonaldTrump this aligns with OGE opinion that POTUS should act as if 18 USC 208 applies. https://t.co/T6nNUPxFwp— U.S. OGE (@U.S. OGE) 1480528501.0
.@realDonaldTrump this divestiture does what handing over control could never have done.— U.S. OGE (@U.S. OGE) 1480528620.0
.@realDonaldTrump - we told your counsel we'd sing your praises if you divested, we meant it.— U.S. OGE (@U.S. OGE) 1480528620.0
As the Daily Dot reported, it was unclear at the time if the OGE Twitter account had been hacked or if the series of uncommon tweets actually came from the agency.
But in an email obtained by the Daily Dot, Shaub listed the tweets and instructed them to posted "first thing" in the morning.
"I would like them posted first thing — 8:30 if possible or as soon as possible thereafter," he said in the email. "Post them all at once."
The Daily Dot reported that the OGE received mixed responses to the tweets. Some alleged "bias" against Trump and others thought the tweets indicated that the office has a favorable opinion of him.
Shaub was appointed to head the OGE in 2012 by President Barack Obama.
