Newly appointed White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s partner works at CNN as a correspondent, raising questions about a possible conflict of interest.
Jean-Pierre, who was appointed Thursday to replace Jen Psaki on May 13, is in a long-term relationship with CNN’s National Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, and they share a child together, according to CNN.
Jean-Pierre will be the first black and openly lesbian White House press secretary in history. She has previously worked on the Biden and Obama presidential campaigns and was an MSNBC and NBC political analyst.
“Suzanne Malveaux will continue in her role as CNN National Correspondent covering national/international news and cultural events but will not cover politics, Capitol Hill, or the White House while Karine Jean-Pierre is serving as White House Press Secretary,” CNN told the Daily Caller in a statement.
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 05: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki (R) hugs Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre (L) during a White House daily press briefing at the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House May 5, 2022 in Washington, DC. President Joe Biden announced today that Karine Jean-Pierre has been promoted to be White House Press Secretary, replacing Jen Psaki who will depart from the White House on May 13, 2022. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“Thank you POTUS and FLOTUS for this opportunity. It is a true honor. I look forward to serving this Administration and the American people. I have big shoes to fill,” Jean-Pierre tweeted Thursday. (RELATED: Psaki Reveals When She’s Leaving Press Secretary Job, Announces Successor)
Thank you @POTUS and @FLOTUS for this opportunity. It is a true honor. I look forward to serving this Administration and the American people. I have big shoes to fill. @PressSec has been a great friend, mentor and excellent press secretary. pic.twitter.com/1knmbe2Nxq
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@KJP46) May 5, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 30: Suzanne Malveaux attends The International Women’s Media Foundation’s 2019 Courage in Journalism Awards at Cipriani 42nd Street on October 30, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
“She will be the first black woman and the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve as the White House Press Secretary. Representation matters and she will give a voice to many, but also make many dream big about what is truly possible,” Psaki tweeted. Psaki has not yet made her future plans official, but previous reports point to her possibly going to work at MSNBC, also presenting a possible conflict of interest.
“Karine not only brings the experience, talent and integrity needed for this difficult job, but she will continue to lead the way in communicating about the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American people. Jill and I have known and respected Karine a long time and she will be a strong voice speaking for me and this Administration,” Biden said in a statement.
CNN has previously faced scrutiny over the alleged conflict of interest of host Chris Cuomo covering his brother, former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders‘ father Mike Huckabee worked as a Fox News contributor while she was in the White House during the Trump administration.
