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Just when you thought the Trump ethics disaster couldnt get worse, it did
For two weeks now, the majority leadership in the new Congress and the incoming Trump administration have been conducting a war on ethics. This has ranged from the effort to cripple the Office of Congressional Ethics to the Senates rush to confirm President-elect Donald Trumps nominees before their financial conflicts disclosures were complete to Trumps own inadequate plan to address his ethical problems.
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How does the Trump plan fall short? The president-elect asserted that the conflicts laws dont apply to him but ignored the most fundamental one of all: the constitutional rule that presidents may not accept cash and other benefits emoluments from foreign governments.
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For speaking up about the shortcomings of this plan, Shaub found himself in the Republican crosshairs. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (Utah), chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that has jurisdiction over the White House, demanded Shaub appear for a Star Chamber-style recorded inquisition and implicitly threatened to shut down the Office of Government Ethics if Shaub did not submit. Chaffetz ought to have been doing the exact opposite, supporting OGE and demanding documents from Trump about any financial ties to Russia or other foreign governments.
Then, just when we thought it couldnt get worse, it did. The incoming White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, went on national television to threaten Shaub. In a scene like something out of a gangster B-movie, Priebus warned the director that he ought to be careful and gave his blessing to Chaffetzs interrogation. Priebuss glare of menace was unmistakable. The only thing he left out was cracking his knuckles.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/just-when-you-thought-the-trump-ethics-disaster-couldnt-get-worse-it-did/2017/01/16/001db550-dc04-11e6-ad42-f3375f271c9c_story.html?utm_term=.53851b03db1c&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1
---
How does the Trump plan fall short? The president-elect asserted that the conflicts laws dont apply to him but ignored the most fundamental one of all: the constitutional rule that presidents may not accept cash and other benefits emoluments from foreign governments.
---
For speaking up about the shortcomings of this plan, Shaub found himself in the Republican crosshairs. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (Utah), chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that has jurisdiction over the White House, demanded Shaub appear for a Star Chamber-style recorded inquisition and implicitly threatened to shut down the Office of Government Ethics if Shaub did not submit. Chaffetz ought to have been doing the exact opposite, supporting OGE and demanding documents from Trump about any financial ties to Russia or other foreign governments.
Then, just when we thought it couldnt get worse, it did. The incoming White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, went on national television to threaten Shaub. In a scene like something out of a gangster B-movie, Priebus warned the director that he ought to be careful and gave his blessing to Chaffetzs interrogation. Priebuss glare of menace was unmistakable. The only thing he left out was cracking his knuckles.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/just-when-you-thought-the-trump-ethics-disaster-couldnt-get-worse-it-did/2017/01/16/001db550-dc04-11e6-ad42-f3375f271c9c_story.html?utm_term=.53851b03db1c&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1
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Just when you thought the Trump ethics disaster couldnt get worse, it did (Original Post)
Arkansas Granny
Jan 2017
OP
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)1. republicans once again prove they LOVE corruption
they live for it
JudyM
(29,248 posts)3. K&R. This is what the media needs to be blaring far louder than tRump's latest tweet.
Arkansas Granny
(31,516 posts)4. Yes, but it's unlikely that a Republican Congress will take any action.
As long as the President has an "R" behind his name, they will gladly accept corruption and breaking Constitutional law.
JudyM
(29,248 posts)5. They're participating, far beyond just accepting his antics.
They are bolstering him and creating a headwind against independent controls.