Page 14 The Skanner April 19, 2017
News
By ERIKA KINETZ and
ANNE D’INNOCENZIO
Associated Press
SHANGHAI — Since
her father was elected
president of the United
States, global sales of
Ivanka Trump merchan-
dise have surged and the
company has applied for
at least nine new trade-
marks in the Philippines,
Puerto Rico, Canada and
the U.S. The commercial
engine of the first daugh-
ter’s brand is stronger
than ever even as she
builds a new political ca-
reer from her West Wing
office.
Sales hit record levels
in 2017, despite boycotts
and several stores lim-
iting her merchandise.
U.S. imports, almost all
from China, shot up an
estimated 166 percent
last year.
The brand, which Ivan-
ka Trump no longer
manages but still owns,
says distribution is grow-
ing. It has launched new
active wear and afford-
able jewelry lines, and
is working to expand its
global intellectual prop-
erty footprint. In addi-
tion to applying for the
new trademarks, Ivanka
Trump Marks LLC has
won provisional approv-
al from the Chinese gov-
ernment for at least five
Obituary: Velesia R. Campbell
November 10, 1963 - April 16, 2017
V
elesia R. Camp-
remember her keen
bell (aka Felicia)
sense of humor, the
was
affection-
love she had for her
ately known as
family and friends and
grandma Lesia to all
inseparable relation-
the young people that
ship she had with her
knew and loved her.
charming cat Frank.
Felicia loved many
Felicia was preceded
things but most of all
in death by her mother
she loved spending
Shirley “Dean” Hadley.
time with her grand-
She leaves to celebrate
children and riding
her memory husband,
Velesia R. Campbell
passenger with her
Charles
Campbell;
husband,
soulmate
daughter, Quintoshia
and love of her life Charles Camp- Bell; son, Larry Bell Jr.; grandchil-
bell.
dren, Chanteaje’ Taylor, Adrian Bell,
Felicia was born and raised in Cameron Bell, Jaliyah Jointer, Josiah
Portland, Oregon. Her parents wel- Jointer, Amari Winston and a host of
comed her to the world November other family members and friends.
10, 1963 and the Heavenly Father May our loving mother and grand-
called her home to Glory on Sunday, mother rest in heavenly peace.
April 16, 2017 surrounded by family
A public viewing will be held Mon-
and friends.
day, April 24, 2017 at Terry Family
Felicia will be remembered for Funeral Home from 4pm to 7pm
holding no punches she would al- followed by a funeral service on
ways let you know what was on her Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at Highland
mind. We will forever in our hearts Christian Center at 11 am.
since the inauguration.
The commercial cur-
rents of President Donald
Trump’s White House
are unprecedented in
modern American poli-
tics, ethics lawyers say.
They have created an un-
familiar landscape riven
with ethical pitfalls, and
forced consumers and
retailers to wrestle with
the unlikely passions
now inspired by Ivanka
Trump’s mid-market col-
lection of ruffled blous-
es, shifts and wedges.
Using the prestige of
government service to
build a brand is not il-
legal. But criminal con-
flict-of-interest law pro-
hibits federal officials,
like Ivanka Trump and
her husband Jared Kush-
ner, from participating in
government matters that
could impact their own
financial interest or that
of their spouses. Some
argue that the more her
business broadens its
scope, the more it threat-
ens to encroach on the
ability of two trusted ad-
visers to deliver credible
counsel to the president
on core issues like trade,
intellectual property and
the value of Chinese cur-
rency.
“Put the business on
hold and stop trying to
get trademarks while
you’re in government,”
advises Richard Paint-
er, who served as chief
White House ethics law-
yer under George W.
Bush.
In fact, on April 6,
Ivanka Trump’s compa-
ny won provisional ap-
proval from the Chinese
government for three
new trademarks, giving
it monopoly rights to sell
Ivanka brand jewelry,
bags and spa services in
the world’s second-larg-
est economy. That night,
the first daughter and
her husband sat next to
AP PHOTO/EVAN VUCCI, FILE
Ivanka’s Biz Prospers as Politics Mixes with Business
In this Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, file photo, Ivanka Trump, right, walks with
her husband, Jared Kushner, senior adviser to the president, to a news
conference with President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe, at the White House in Washington. Ivanka Trump’s
company continues to grow. Ethics lawyers fear the more her business
expands, the more it may encroach on her ability, and husband, Jared
Kushner, to credibly advise the president on core issues.
the president of China
and his wife for a steak
and Dover sole dinner at
Mar-a-Lago.
The scenario under-
scores how difficult it
is for the president’s
daughter, to separate
business from politics in
her new position at the
White House.
In a statement Tues-
day, a spokesperson for
the Ivanka Trump brand
said that all 2017 Chi-
nese trademarks were
defensive, filed to pre-
vent counterfeiters or
squatters from using her
name.
To address ethical con-
cerns, Ivanka Trump has
shifted the brand’s assets
to a family-run trust val-
ued at more than $50 mil-
lion and pledged to re-
cuse herself from issues
that present conflicts.
She is also no longer run-
ning her design business
and has given day-to-day
responsibility to Abigail
Klem, president of the
brand. Meanwhile, her
husband has taken steps
to distance himself from
his sprawling New York
real estate business, di-
vesting some of his busi-
ness interests including
his stake in a major Fifth
Avenue skyscraper.
“Ivanka will not weigh
in on business strategy,
marketing issues or the
commercial terms of
agreements,” her attor-
ney, Jamie Gorelick, said
in a statement. “She has
retained authority to di-
rect the trustees to ter-
minate agreements that
she determines create a
conflict of interest or the
appearance of one.”
China, however, re-
mains a nagging concern.
“Ivanka has so many
China ties and conflicts,
yet she and Jared appear
deeply involved in Chi-
na contacts and policy.
I would never have al-
lowed it,” said Norman
Eisen, who served as
chief White House ethics
lawyer under President
Barack Obama. “For their
own sake, and the coun-
try’s, Ivanka and Jared
should consider step-
ping away from China
matters.”
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