White House press secretary Jen Psaki sought to reassure reporters she has received rigorous ethical counseling after news she is in exclusive talks with MSNBC to join the network and that they are close to a deal.
“I have always gone over and above the stringent ethical requirements of the Biden administration,” Psaki said Friday. “So I hope that all of you, I’ve been working with all of you for some time, would judge me for my record and how I treat all of you both in the briefing room and otherwise.”
At the same time, Psaki declined to confirm the May move, with no contracts signed. She was rumored to be negotiating with CNN and MSNBC.
“Well, you can’t get rid of me yet,” she said. “I have nothing to confirm about my length of public service or planned service or anything about consideration about next plans.”
BIDEN BILLIONAIRE TAX FACES OBSTACLES IN CONGRESS AHEAD OF MIDTERM ELECTIONS
“My focus every day continues to be speaking on behalf of the president, answering your questions,” she added.
Last summer, Psaki walked back her own comment that she would leave the White House after one year, telling the Financial Times her timeline had “flexibility.” She had told fellow Obama administration alumnus David Axelrod that spring it would “be time for somebody else to have this job in a year from now or about a year from now.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Psaki’s No. 2, White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield, and Pentagon spokesman John Kirby are among her speculated replacements.
