Ethics watchdog calls for probe into Trump’s $45K gifts to White House aides

A watchdog group filed a complaint with the Office of Government Ethics asking for an investigation into $45,000 in cash gifts President Trump gave to White House aides Natalie Harp, Margo Martin, and Chamberlain Harris (with a $20,000 gift to Walt Nauta), arguing the payments appear to supplement salaries and may violate the federal cap on outside compensation for senior employees. The White House has defended the gifts as holiday gestures unrelated to official duties, while Campaign Legal Center urges further probe to determine whether other executive branch staff received similar gifts and, if warranted, to refer the matter to the Justice Department.