DRAINING WHAT SWAMP? HOW DOES STOCKING THE SWAMP SOUND?

PhotoCred: Ben Garrison

PhotoCred: Ben Garrison

Of all the bogus promises Donald Trump made in running for President, the pledge he would “drain the swamp” ranks as the most ludicrous in light of how he’s performed in office. The “drain the swamp” promise concerned, of course, cleaning up the cozy relationship between lobbyists and government regulators and reducing the influence of those dispensing “goodies” to government officials in exchange for favorable regulatory actions.  Trump pledged he’d name cabinet officials and staff of high integrity.  He even said he could best fix the problem because his years of personal involvement in the influence peddling industry taught him the lay of the land.  Presumably, “draining the swamp” included guarding taxpayer money from excesses of the administration’s own officials.

It hasn’t worked out that way.  Ethics lawyers in recent Democratic and Republican administrations, Norman Eisen and Richard Painter, call Trump’s first year in office the “most unethical” in modern history.  Anyone who thinks this view sounds like hyperbole or merely the ranting of Trump’s political opponents should look at the facts.

CABINET OFFICERS

*Tom Price --- the former Georgia congressman served as Health and Human Services Secretary for only 231 days before resigning in the wake of allegations he spent over $1 million in taxpayer money on travel on private jets and military aircraft.

*Ben Carson --- Carson remains on the job as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, but questions linger about his order in late 2017 of a $31,000 dining set for his office.  A career HUD official filed a complaint after she said she was demoted because she refused to approve more than $5,000 for office decorations. 

*Scott Pruitt --- any day, events could force Pruitt out of his job as Environmental Protection Agency chief.  Trump said Pruitt has done “a great job” and has been unfairly targeted by liberals upset with his policies.  Still, Pruitt has been credibly accused of a long list of ethical transgressions, including (1) renting a room in a Washington condominium for the absurdly low price of $50 per night from the family of a lobbyist with business involving the EPA; (2) awarding large raises to administrative staffers the White House wouldn’t approve by using a special provision in the Safe Drinking Water Act usually reserved for hiring experts with special scientific training; (3) assembling a 20 person security detail at a cost of $3 million dollars; (4) spending $42,000 on a sound proof phone booth in his office; and (5) using tax dollars to fund first class air travel while flying coach on personal trips, putting the lie to his claim he need first class accommodations for security reasons.

WHITE HOUSE STAFF

Rob Porter --- the former Staff Secretary’s domestic violence transgressions have been well chronicled in this space and need no further explanation.

Lori Mashburn --- this Interior Department liaison apparently violated a specific ethics pledge she and other White House staff members signed promising not to involve themselves in the activities of their former employers  or clients.  Mashburn apparently attended a Heritage Foundation event in clear violation of the policy. 

Jared Kushner --- the President’s son in law, senior adviser, and Middle East troubleshooter denies wrongdoing, but credible reporting exists indicating he failed to disclose all required financial information (he still doesn’t have a permanent security clearance), mixed government and private business in his dealings with the Chinese, and participated, with his wife, the President’s daughter, in meetings with high ranking Japanese officials while she was negotiating with a Japanese company on a licensing deal for her clothing brand.

PRESIDENT TRUMP

The President’s transgressions begin with his continuing involvement in private businesses, giving at least the impression he benefits financially as a result of holding office.  Unlike nearly all previous occupants of the White House, Trump didn’t divest himself of his significant business interests before taking office, nor did he place them in a blind trust.  This opened the door to actual impropriety as well as its appearance.  The Trump Hotel in Washington, for example, reportedly has become a preferred destination for foreign officials doing business with the United States government.  However much money Trump and his family receive from lodging fees and meal costs paid to the hotel by these officials, the potential for influence peddling appears obvious.

Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property in Florida doubled its membership initiation fee to $200,000 after Trump won the 2016 election.  The resort’s managing director said Trump’s presidency “enhances” Mar-a-Lago membership.  Trump hosts events there for members at which the major purpose seems access to him.  Does anyone doubt Trump’s occupancy of the nation’s highest office contributed to the membership fee increase?  The fact membership has been reported nearly capped out almost certainly reflects an interest in attaining access to Trump.

Other ethical lapses abound in the Trump administration.  Make your own judgment about how bad they are and what Congress, the judicial branch, and the nation should do about them.   What do you recommend?