Bannon’s appointment stoked fear among liberals and conservatives alike that he would utilize the fiery Breitbart.com — a site that regularly attacks House Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republicans, as well as liberal Democrats — as a semi-official house organ to promote Trump’s policies and attack his critics.
But existing White House ethics rules prohibit officials from dealing with their former employers for at least a year — meaning Bannon would have to scrupulously avoid any contact with Breitbart.
As president, Trump could waive that rule. But Bannon would still be subject to a law that bans officials from doing anything that would benefit their former employers, if they have any financial interests or an agreement to return.
Bannon was the company’s chairman until taking a leave oversee Trump’s campaign in August. He later indicated that he planned to return.
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