Jen Psaki won’t give a straight answer: is she going to MSNBC or not?

A flustered Psaki batted away questions pertaining to her reported negotiations with the liberal news network on Friday. Psaki, who serves as the current White House Press secretary, would be in a highly unethical position if she is both in talks with a news network while continuing to serve her WH position. She doesn’t see it that way.

From the Daily Mail:

‘I have done — have taken the ethics legal requirements, to the highest, very seriously, in any discussions in any considerations of any future employment, just as any White House official would, and I’ve taken steps beyond that to ensure there’s no conflicts,’ she said.

NBC’s White House correspondent Kristen Welker asked Psaki to explain ‘how is this ethical to have these conversations with media outlets’ while holding down her job.

‘Well, there are a range of stringent ethical and legal requirements that are imposed on everybody in this administration and many administrations past about any conversations you’re having with future employers. That is true of any industry you’re working in. And I have abided by those, and tried to take steps to go beyond that as well.’

The “future employers” line is a tacit admission that she is indeed going to MSNBC, however she flat out refused to answer the question posed to her. How is it ethical?

She also refused to explicitly state whether she was staying in the White House or leaving for the network next month.

Through all the ethical nuance, she declined to say she was leaving, despite the reports.

‘You can’t get rid of me yet,’ she said – implying that there was no done-deal.

However, even if the deal is not complete, simply being in negotiations with them while continuing in her duties as press secretary is a breach of ethics. Something which this administration seems to have no qualms about.

Psaki also states that she has “recused” herself from important decisions as was appropriate, however does not elaborate on precisely what decisions those would be.