Ethics panel sounds the alarm after Trump official appears in jewelry ad using government title

Source: The Independent

Wednesday 04 February 2026 17:45 EST


An ethics watchdog is sounding the alarm after a Trump administration official overseeing mineral innovation hawked diamond jewelry in a retail catalog.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which describes itself as an organization fighting for American democracy with an "aim to build a government that is accountable, transparent and ethical," filed a complaint last week focused on the jewelry ad.

The complaint urges the Energy Department's inspector general to investigate Trice Jewelers catalog ads featuring Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson. She oversees the agency's Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.

The ad features a photo of Robertson — decked out in several pieces of diamond jewelry — and her dog. Larger images of the jewelry on offer surround the photo, including an 18-karat white gold diamond necklace with a $14,200 price tag. In addition to the images, there's a short quote from Robertson about her favorite jewelry and a biographical blurb about her that mentions her title.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/ethics-panel-trump-official-jewelry-ad-b2914138.html?test_group=lighteradlayout