Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote to ethics officials urging a probe into whether Mick Mulvaney's discussions with the university violated the so-called Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge Act. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images education Warren demands probe into Mulvaney's job talks with University of South Carolina

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Tuesday she wants an investigation into Mick Mulvaney's reported discussions with the University of South Carolina about becoming the school's next president, which Warren said may have violated federal law.

The New York Times reported this month that the acting White House chief of staff as recently as late last year explored the possibility of taking the top spot at the university in his home state.


Warren wrote to ethics officials in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Office of Management and Budget — two agencies Mulvaney led last year — urging a probe into whether Mulvaney's discussions with the university violated the so-called Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge Act.

The law says federal officials "may not directly negotiate or have any agreement of future employment" with outside entities unless they disclose the negotiations with their agency's ethics office. It also requires officials recuse themselves "whenever there is a conflict of interest, or appearance of a conflict of interest."

Warren asked the ethics officials whether Mulvaney disclosed his talks with USC officials and whether he recused himself from "any and all matters involving the University of South Carolina or its affiliated entities" while at OMB and the CFPB.

Her letter noted that the USC is getting nearly $200 million in federal grants and contracts. The CFPB, she wrote, monitors financial products and credit card marketing agreements issued in conjunction with universities and alumni associations, including the University of South Carolina Alumni Association.

"The STOCK Act was passed to prevent conflicts of interest that would allow senior government officials to enrich themselves, their past employers, or any future employers at the expense of American taxpayers," Warren wrote. "Mr. Mulvaney is one of the top officials in the Trump Administration. His compliance with the STOCK Act is crucial to protecting American taxpayers and maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the federal government."