In a transparent attempt at intimidation, the director of the federal Office of Government Ethics has been summoned by House Republicans to a closed-door interrogation session to explain his criticism of President-elect Donald Trump’s conflict-of-interest plans as “meaningless.” Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, accused the director of “blurring the line between public relations and official ethics guidance.”

If anyone is blurring that line, it has been Mr. Trump, not Walter Shaub, whose independent office is responsible for making sure that federal officials observe conflict-of-interest laws. While Mr. Trump notes that the presidential office has greater freedom under these laws, Mr. Shaub has repeatedly warned that Mr. Trump’s plans are “wholly inadequate” and would leave him susceptible to “suspicions of corruption.”

With the inauguration approaching and this pivotal issue far from satisfactorily resolved, Mr. Shaub deserves commendation, not criticism, for maintaining pressure on Mr. Trump on behalf of the public interest. Mr. Chaffetz noted that his committee has the power to decide whether to reauthorize the ethics office — a pointed threat to punish the office for the director doing his job.