The White House is criticized for the search for sponsors for its annual Easter Egg Roll, a free event for children to celebrate the holiday.
Sponsors can choose from three packages that cost between $ 75,000 and $ 200,000, according to a pitch document of nine pages that was first reported by CNN. The top layer comprises a score of 900 square foot, tickets for a brunch organized by First Lady Melania Trump and 150 tickets for the event.
'For $ 200,000, CEOs can hit their company logo on Donald Trump dressed as the Easter Bunny. It is absurdly corrupt, “wrote Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren on X.
Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, fierce critic of President Donald Trump, called for a boycott of every company that sponsors the Easter -like roll.
“Let's make sure that it is just balance of nature, my pillow and auxiliary factor and some Foxnews,” he wrote on social media.
Richard Painter, who served as Chief White House Ethics Lawyer in 2005-2007, joked: 'Of course the Easter Bunny of the White House drives a Tesla. I can't wait to see the photo! '
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump wave along the Easter Bunny at the Easter Egg Roll of the White House 2019
But Painter had a broader point: the offer could violate government ethics.
“Presenting business brands at De Witte Huis Easter EGG Roll In exchange for payment is unacceptable use of a public office for private profit,” he noticed.
The emolument clause of the Constitution prohibits an elected officer to take advantage of his public position. And the White House could be seen about this by allowing private companies to use an official event to show their brands and allow the proceeds to flow into a private non -profit.
The sponsor package was compiled by Harbinger Events, an external company that has been contracted by the Historical Association of the White House to help with the event.
Every win goes to the WHHA, a non -profit organization founded by Jackie Kennedy to keep the White House.
Neither the Historical Association or Harbinger responded to the request of DailyMail.com for comments.
But Stewart McLaurin, head of the WHHA, said to CNN: 'For many presidencies, the Historical Association of the White House has worked with the White House staff to facilitate a public meeting, such as the annual White House Easter AGG Roll. And as we do with other gifts on the White House collection, we receive contributions and gifts in kind that are used on the site that day. '
It is common for external companies to be hired to help with large events – state dinners, the Easter celebration and Halloween – given the small number of employees in the Social Office and the White House visitor's office.
And the Easter Rol has sponsors. It is not paid with tax money. The American Egg Board donates the thousands of eggs used at the event, just like the National Turkey Federation sponsors the annual grace in Turkey.
But it is unclear whose idea it was to offer business sponsorship.
The event is compiled by the Historical Association of the White House, Harbinger and the East Wing, where there is still no social secretary. It is often the responsibility of the social secretary to supervise the planning process of events.
President Trump and Melania Trump watch while children roll eggs on the South Lawn during the Easter Egg Roll 2019 2019
First Lady Melania Trump hugs a girl while making cards for members of the army during the annual Easter -like Roll 2017
The first White House Easter Egg Roll took place on April 22, 1878 after President Rutherford B. Hayes agreed to open the White House site on Easter Monday.
It has a variety of events – including an egg -rolling race, reading corners and educational areas.
The pitch -deck that is sent to potential sponsors makes it possible to place the name of important areas, placing logo and brand gimiders.
It would not be the first time that the White House showed a large company on the site.
Last month, Trump changed the South Lawn to a Tesla showroom, so that five of his vehicles were parked on the ride. The move came then Tesla shares dropped in the midst of criticism of the role of CEO Elon Musk in reducing the federal government.
