An influential ethics watchdog organisation has raised significant concerns after a senior Trump administration official overseeing mineral innovation appeared in a retail jewellery catalogue advertisement while prominently featuring her government title.
Formal Complaint Filed Over Catalogue Appearance
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a prominent organisation dedicated to promoting governmental accountability and ethical standards, submitted a formal complaint last week focusing specifically on the jewellery advertisement. The complaint urges the Energy Department's inspector general to launch a thorough investigation into catalogue advertisements from Trice Jewelers that feature Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson, who leads the agency's Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.
Advertisement Details and Ethical Concerns
The advertisement in question displays a photograph of Robertson adorned with multiple pieces of diamond jewellery alongside her dog. The layout includes larger images showcasing various jewellery items available for purchase, including an 18-karat white gold diamond necklace priced at $14,200. Accompanying the visual elements is a brief quotation from Robertson discussing her favourite jewellery pieces alongside a biographical description that explicitly mentions her official government position and title.
"Ethics rules explicitly prohibit executive branch officials from utilising their public office and official titles for private gain, including endorsing products or commercial enterprises," states the CREW complaint document. The organisation further argues that "Robertson's prominent appearance in the catalogue, combined with the biographical information specifically identifying her title and position at the Department of Energy, creates the implication that her support for this private jeweller was provided in her official capacity and carries the endorsement of the federal government."
Department Response and Ongoing Questions
An Energy Department spokesperson addressed the situation by describing the advertisement as an "oversight that has since been addressed" in communications with Government Executive. The official statement clarified that "the appearance represented an unpaid, personal engagement made in her capacity as a private individual, occurring prior to her official confirmation. Her title was included by the vendor as biographical context rather than as an endorsement suggestion. Once this error was brought to the department's attention, Ms Robertson requested the vendor implement appropriate corrections."
The statement concluded by asserting that "Ms Robertson fully adheres to all ethics requirements and maintains the highest standards of professional conduct." Despite this departmental response, CREW continues to press the agency's inspector general to investigate several key questions: whether Robertson requested her title be included in the advertisement, whether she received any form of payment for her participation, whether she maintains any prior relationship with Trice Jewelers, and whether she sought appropriate ethics guidance before agreeing to appear in the promotional material.
Historical Context of Similar Ethical Concerns
This incident represents neither an isolated occurrence nor the first instance where Trump administration officials have faced accusations of potentially using their governmental positions to endorse commercial products. Last spring, President Donald Trump himself conducted a press event where he publicly announced his intention to purchase a Tesla vehicle from then-DOGE chief and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy characterised this display as "corruption" at the time, stating in a social media post that "just because the corruption plays out in public doesn't mean it's not corruption."
Additional Cases of Product Promotion
Further examples include Trump's Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who faced legal action regarding her promotion of a Texas dental practice through her social media accounts while serving as South Dakota Governor. Travelers United, a consumer advocacy organisation, filed a lawsuit in 2024 accusing Noem of "advertising a product or service without disclosing that she maintains a financial relationship with that company." The allegations centred on a promotional video where Noem stated, "I'm the governor of South Dakota and had the opportunity to come to Smile Texas to fix my teeth, which has been absolutely amazing."
During Trump's initial presidential term, then-adviser Kellyanne Conway received an official warning from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics after publicly encouraging Americans to "go buy Ivanka's stuff," referencing a clothing line operated by the president's daughter. Conway had explicitly stated, "Go buy Ivanka's stuff. I own some of it. I fully — I'm going to just, going to give a free commercial here. Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online." Following complaints from Democratic representatives and ethics monitoring organisations, the office determined that "Ms Conway acted inadvertently and is highly unlikely to repeat this behaviour."
