But even Mr. Obama has taken precautions to separate his role as the head of the Democratic Party from his official duties. Hurling a personal insult at Mr. Trump from a White House lectern? Mr. Obama shuttered the office, and when it reopened in 2014, his lawyers issued new guidance about how to comply with the law. When Mr. Obama taped his endorsement video last month for Mrs. Clinton at the White House, it was done in the Map Room — part of the residence, rather than his West Wing offices — and Mr. The White House counsel, Neil Eggleston, and members of his staff have stepped up their warnings to White House officials and other top administration appointees to exercise care that their political activity stays within the law, which limits the use of official resources for partisan activities.

Source: New York Times July 04, 2016 00:00 UTC