avatarMax Ufberg

Summary

The Trump administration has been involved in multiple instances of alleged corruption, including conflicts of interest, questionable use of government funds, and interference in legal cases.

Abstract

This week's report on Trump administration corruption includes several significant incidents: The owner of The Hill newspaper allegedly secured a role for his wife advising Melania Trump without disclosing the conflict of interest. A charter airline with Republican ties received a substantial bailout during the coronavirus pandemic. The Department of Justice attempted to reduce the charges against Roger Stone, as revealed by prosecutor Aaron Zelinsky's testimony. Michael Flynn's case was dismissed following an order from Trump-appointed judge Neomi Rao. The Department of Justice launched an investigation into an agreement between California and auto manufacturers for higher-mileage vehicles after Trump's critical tweet. Whistleblower Rick Bright reported continued obstruction by HHS Secretary Alex Azar in his efforts to address the coronavirus. Lastly, the Senate removed a provision requiring campaigns to report foreign election interference, a move that could benefit Trump, who has been accused of soliciting foreign help for his campaigns.

Opinions

  • The Hill's owner, Jimmy Finkelstein, is criticized for a conflict of interest regarding his wife's advisory role with Melania Trump, suggesting a lack of journalistic integrity.
  • The charter airline's bailout is seen as a potential misuse of coronavirus relief funds due to its political connections and prior government contracts.
  • The DOJ's handling of the Roger Stone case is viewed as a politically motivated attempt to influence the judicial process in favor of a Trump ally.
  • The dismissal of Michael Flynn's case is perceived as a partisan decision influenced by Trump's judicial appointee, Neomi Rao, undermining judicial independence.
  • The DOJ's investigation into California's vehicle emissions deal, prompted by Trump's tweet, is interpreted as a politically driven action rather than an impartial legal procedure.
  • Rick Bright's allegations against HHS Secretary Alex Azar imply a pattern of political interference in scientific and health-related matters concerning the pandemic response.
  • The Senate's decision to strip the requirement for campaigns to report foreign election help is seen as a green light for foreign interference in U.S. elections, with particular concern for Trump's alleged solicitation of such help.

Trump Corruption Index

This Week in Trumpland Corruption: Tectonic Grifts

From trying to secure a lesser sentence for Roger Stone to Michael Flynn’s freedom, this was a standout week

Photo illustration. Source: State Department

Is there enough graft, double-dealing, and self-interested chicanery in the Trump administration to publish this column every week? Only time — and Trump — will tell. (But we feel pretty confident.) Introducing the Trump Corruption Index.

The Hill’s big shill

Politico reports that after Jimmy Finkelstein, the owner of the political news site The Hill, helped land his wife a gig advising Melania Trump from August 2017 to February 2018, his publication’s readers were never told of the conflict of interest in any of of the several dozen articles published about the first lady during that time span.

  • Corrupt-o-meter (out of a possible 5 emojis): 🗞️🤝

Sky-high grift

A charter airline that has won enormous contracts with ICE and the DOD and whose parent company’s PAC gives nearly exclusively to Republicans got a $67 million bailout in the coronavirus relief package, according to a Yahoo News investigation.

  • Corrupt-o-meter: ✈️💰💸

Leaving no Stone unturned

The DOJ tried to get the prosecutor in the Roger Stone case to “water down” his criminal charges to secure a lesser sentence for Trump’s jailed former campaign adviser, federal prosecutor Aaron Zelinsky testified before Congress.

  • Corrupt-o-meter: ⚖️😡🤦‍

Flynn’s set free

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn will now serve zero months behind bars after Trump’s most partisan judicial appointee, Neomi Rao, ordered the district court to dismiss the case against him.

  • Corrupt-o-meter: ⚖️🇷🇺 😡 ‍‍‍‍‍🤦‍

The Golden State vs. the orange man

The DOJ opened an investigation into California’s agreement with auto manufacturers to produce higher-mileage vehicles one day after Trump tweeted his complaints about the deal, according to a whistleblower’s congressional testimony last week.

  • Corrupt-o-meter: 💰🚗

No cure for corruption

Whistleblowing scientist Rick Bright, who was demoted for not backing Trump’s promotion of hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19, a drug that has since been proven not just useless but harmful in people with the disease, alleged last week that HHS Secretary Alex Azar has continued to try to “thwart” his work in his new role at NIH, where he is working to improve coronavirus diagnostic tests.

  • Corrupt-o-meter: 💉

Giving the green light to election meddling

The Senate stripped language from an intelligence bill ordering presidential campaigns to report to the FBI any offers of foreign election interference — a requirement that would have been especially painful for Trump, who benefited from Russia’s help in 2016 and reportedly asked for China’s help to win reelection in 2020.

  • Corrupt-o-meter: 💰🇷🇺🇨🇳
Trump
Politics
Election 2020
Government
Trump Corruption Index
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