Ivanka Trump Marks LLC accused of using White House for personal gain, lawsuit filed

Ivanka Trump’s company is accused of using the power of the White House for personal gain. A San Francisco clothing company has filed a lawsuit against it, alleging unfair competition that violates constitutional provision, federal and state laws.

Modern Appealing Clothing, an independent luxury boutique, filed a lawsuit against the first daughter’s company last week to the San Francisco County Superior Court. It alleges that Ivanka Trump Marks LLC exploits the “power and prestige of the White House for personal gain,” specifically doing a “piggy-backing promotion” of the company’s products at governmental events.

The lawsuit cites US President Donald Trump’s criticism of retailers, including Nordstrom for dropping his daughter’s brand as an example of the advantages the firm benefits from. It also included presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway’s promotion of Ivanka products during a television appearance “with the White House insignia visible behind her.”

Even White House press secretary Sean Spicer was mentioned in the lawsuit, as he was being accused of utilising his position to support Ivanka’s company. The suit, which seeks a court order to ban Ivanka’s company from “continuing to compete unfairly,” aims to represent a class, including all women’s and accessories companies that operated in California between Nov. 9, 2016 and the date of the trial. Ivanka Trump Marks LLC refused to comment on the case Tuesday, USA Today reports.

A separate lawsuit has been filed by operators of a Washington, DC wine bar, arguing that they can’t compete with the Trumps’ nearby multi-million dollar hotel and restaurant. One of the POTUS’ sons, Eric Trump, said the suit filed by the owners of Cork Wine Bar is a “publicity stunt.” “It’s people who have nothing better to do, so they harass and they harass and the [court] will throw it out. It’s ridiculous,” the Washington Post quotes him.

The suit filed by Modern Appealing Clothing seeks class-action status as it represents other women's clothing and accessories businesses in California. The one from Cork Wine Bar, on the other hand, seeks no damages. Instead, it aims for a court order to band Trump’s DC hotel business from operating while the president owns it.

Meanwhile, the first daughter will reportedly have her own office in the West Wing of the White House and will be given a security clearance to be able to obtain classified information as she informally serves as an adviser to her father. Her husband, Jared Kushner, serves as an official senior adviser to the president.