The Department of Justice taking multiple election-related legal actions in the weeks before the elections sure smacks of election interference and would not have been permitted by Justice Departments of either party in the past.
Noah Bookbinder
@noahbookbinder.bsky.social
Nonprofit leader, ethics expert, former federal corruption prosecutor.
Donald Trump demanded charges against former FBI Director James Comey, whom he considers a political enemy. The Justice Department keeps charging him, even though charges keep getting thrown out. The latest charges didn't come from career attorneys or from a grand jury. This is an outrageous abuse.
Justice Dept. charges James Comey, ex-FBI director, for a third time
Comey was accused of leaking sensitive information to the media in 2016.
washingtonpost.com
Objectively, Donald Trump is using the presidency to enrich himself. He has retained his businesses, he is not shy about promoting them from the presidency, and his wealth has increased greatly as president. But it is significant that more Americans are recognizing this.
Poll finds jump in Republicans who say Trump is enriching himself
About one-third of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents now hold that view, up from about one-fifth a year ago, a Post-ABC-Ipsos poll finds.
washingtonpost.com
Companies with massive stakes in decisions before President Trump and his administration gave many millions to the White House ballroom project, which the President has made clear is important to him. So are you confident he'll make those decisions based only on what's good for the American people?
Secret documents reveal donors behind $330 million for Trump’s ballroom
The records offer a panoramic view of a fundraising campaign that is extraordinary for its size and opacity.
washingtonpost.com
As a former federal corruption prosecutor, I can say with confidence that there's a lot in how the government has handled this investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar that is deeply problematic and troubling. A quick breakdown: 🧵
The President bought over $1 million in SpaceX bonds days before issuing a new policy that is in part intended to strengthen the space industry. Whether this is out-and-out corruption or just a (glaring) appearance of conflict of interest, we have to stop pretending this is in any way acceptable.
Trump bought over $1 million in SpaceX debt days before unveiling space policy
The purchase, revealed in his latest financial disclosure, involved a firm directly affected by his administration’s actions — and led by presidential ally Elon Musk.
washingtonpost.com
Within days of leaving his top White House Latin American policy job, Michael Jensen was helping a crypto billionaire look for oil deals in Venezuela. This is just old school revolving door corruption.
Ex-Trump officials find new jobs in Venezuela’s lucrative oil industry
Companies and investors are eager to hire those with recent access to the White House and knowledge of the administration’s Venezuela policy or contacts.
washingtonpost.com
Sometimes pushing back on outrageous corruption works, even with this President.
Trump reverses course, says he won’t use taxpayer money for campaign-style ads
The president said he would use private funds to pay for ads promoting himself and his policies.
washingtonpost.com
Jack Smith's investigations and prosecutions were independent, appropriate, and supported by facts and law. The efforts to attack, discredit, and even try to prosecute him are an affront to democracy and accountability. We can't let these efforts to flip the narrative continue to take root.
Jack Smith clashes with senators over Trump probes, says he will not be silenced
Jack Smith returned to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to defend his derailed efforts to prosecute President Donald Trump, telling lawmakers he would not “be silenced by continued threats of prosecution” from...
washingtonpost.com
The President and has family have increasing investments in AI. The President is resisting calls, even from AI industry leaders, for the industry to slow down and address real dangers. Who could imagine any ways the President's financial interests could affect policy decisions or the public good?
Trump and sons invest heavily in AI economy as he resists calls for slowdown
Trump’s decisions as president on one of the most consequential policy debates of his administration could affect the value of his personal investments.
washingtonpost.com
President Trump is pushing for lax oversight of prediction markets at the federal and state levels. Also his family is heavily invested in prediction markets. That seems like a problem.
Clash Between Prediction Markets and States Sets Off a Furious Political Battle
nytimes.com
Senior executive branch officials blocking investigations into the President's friends and allies has become so commonplace in this administration that we barely even notice it anymore. But we should. It's corrupt and wrong.
Before Hegseth fired him, top general was advised to drop Kid Rock probe
Gen. Randy George appeared troubled by the encounter with Gen. Chris LaNeve, the Army’s No. 2 officer now favored for the service’s top job, people familiar with the matter told The Post.
washingtonpost.com
Inspectors General are supposed to be independent checks on waste, fraud, and abuse at the agencies for which they perform oversight. These positions should never be filled with political loyalists. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump nominates loyalist to office that would oversee Reflecting Pool review
Dennis Kirk, a Project 2025 author who had worked for then-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, may now run Interior’s inspector general office.
washingtonpost.com
This is a particularly outrageous example of corrupt and unethical conduct from this President, and it somehow has escaped widespread notice. The President is selling for large sums early access to his social media posts that often move markets, generally to Wall Street types. 🧵
Paid early access to Trump's posts raises insider trading questions
President Trump is selling early access to his social media posts. Truth Social launched a subscription service giving a first look at posts from the president. The price tag is reportedly up to $100,...
pbs.org
Here we go again with the nonstop corruption in this administration. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/u...
Trump Seeks a Boost for Hemp That Would Benefit a Top Aide’s Family
At the White House’s request, senators tucked a change sought by the hemp industry into a crucial spending bill. It would benefit the son-in-law of Susie Wiles, the president’s chief of staff.
nytimes.com
The so-called weaponization fund was corrupt and abusive, and abandoning it is good for democracy. But that doesn't change the fact that Todd Blanche has been involved in many efforts to weaponize the Justice Department against the President's enemies and use it for the President's personal benefit.
Blanche’s AG nomination back on track after he formally rescinds payout fund
Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) had threatened to vote against Todd Blanche’s nomination if their concerns were not addressed.
washingtonpost.com
Donald Trump and those who work for him aggressively pushing companies to give millions for pet projects that are important to him, while the president is also directly involved in decisions that affect those companies, is extreme corruption. We should not accept this as the way things are.
Exclusive | ‘The Boss Wants This Money’: Inside Trump’s Unprecedented Fundraising Operation
Meredith O’Rourke, nicknamed ‘princess of darkness,’ carries out the president’s desire to wring hundreds of millions from companies for his projects.
wsj.com
If you were wondering whether FIFA could get even more corrupt...
FIFA plan for Kushner-backed $20 billion operation to run World Cup meets fury from Europe's UEFA
FIFA President Gianni Infantino plans to create a $20 billion company running the World Cup with private investors including the Kushner family.
apnews.com
Definitely no ethics or corruption issues to see here...
Trump’s sons invest heavily in defense tech as father’s administration pours money in
Most investments by funds linked to Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have taken place since their father’s reelection.
washingtonpost.com
One factor in President Trump's struggles to untangle the current morass in the Middle East is the complex relationship with Saudi Arabia, which has strong ideas about what should happen. He'd be better positioned to deal with that if he didn't have large financial entanglements with the country.
How the Iran War Ignited a Clash Between Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince
nytimes.com
Just because it has somehow become commonplace for this President to make billions while serving and using his office to benefit his businesses does not mean that we should ever think it is okay.
Trump Pulled in at Least $2 Billion After Returning to the White House
nytimes.com
The lawyers and civil servants who somehow okayed the president using a $400 million airplane given to him by a foreign government with every reason to want to influence him and receive favorable treatment should really check their ethics. Disgraceful.
White House says goodbye to an Air Force One as it prepares for Qatar jet
White House officials say goodbye to the old Air Force One as President Trump prepares to accept his new jet from Qatar.
washingtonpost.com
The Department of Justice using its investigative authority to go after not only perceived political enemies of the president, but private citizens who dared to hold him accountable for wrongdoing is dangerous to democracy and deeply unethical. Agents and prosecutors should examine their actions.
DOJ probes Democratic-allied nonprofit that helped pay E. Jean Carroll’s legal bills
The investigation centers on statements Carroll made during a deposition in her civil lawsuit against President Donald Trump, in which a jury found that he had sexually assaulted and defamed her.
washingtonpost.com
The president’s employees agreeing to a settlement with him to award $1.8 billion to his allies, potentially even those who sought to violently overturn an election, and protecting him and his family from accountability. Unethical. Indefensible. Supported by lies.
Trump and Top Officials Defend $1.8 Billion Fund With Inaccurate Claims
nytimes.com
An important piece from @protectdemocracy.org's Justin Florence and Justin Vail on disgorgement of money administration figures have made from illegal corruption, an ethical approach to accountability that can succeed even now and is less likely to fuel the cycle of retaliation.
Opinion | There's a remedy for White House corruption that Trump pardons can't touch
Justin Florence and Justin Vail: Simply put, under a legal principle called disgorgement, you don’t get to keep what you stole.
ms.now
Donald Trump's deal with the IRS to create a $1.8 billion fund to pay off his political allies, particularly those who engaged in the Jan. 6 insurrection, is dangerous and corrupt. Surely there was pressure, but those at the DOJ and IRS who signed off on this have a lot to answer for ethically.
Trump’s deal to drop suit against IRS creates $1.8B ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’
The deal, laid out in a document signed by acting attorney general Todd Blanche, could result in taxpayer payouts to the president’s allies.
washingtonpost.com
Religious leaders should consider whether participating in a massive event with the administration that presents an exclusionary, nationalist, and politicized version of religion in America is an ethical way to approach their responsibilities as clergy. Hard to see how it could be.
White House to host 9-hour prayer festival focused on Christian roots of U.S.
Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio and Mike Johnson will speak at the event, which centers on the idea that the founders wanted the U.S. to be explicitly Christian.
washingtonpost.com
Prosecutors systematically charging perceived enemies of the president with legally dubious offenses is deeply unethical and devastating to our system of checks and balances and the rule of law. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
DOJ charges Southern Poverty Law Center over paid informants
The civil rights group is being investigated over how it has sought to infiltrate extremist groups, its CEO says, adding that it “will not be intimidated.”
washingtonpost.com
The president soliciting large amounts of money for something that's very important to him from companies that are enormously effected by his decisions creates massive ethical problems, for the president and for the companies. I spoke with @newrepublic.com's @gregsargent.bsky.social.
Trump Library Saga Takes Dark Turn: Where Did Millions in Funding Go?
Four huge media conglomerates forked over $63 million in “settlements” earmarked for Trump’s presidential library. Democrats are trying to track that money—and the latest developments don’t inspire co...
newrepublic.com
Donald Trump is hosting another dinner for those who have invested large sums in his meme coin, again almost certainly including business people who are seeking to influence him. A craven example of influence peddling, and a clear example of why we so need ethical leaders in business right now.
Trump Is Hosting Another Meme Coin Gala—The Price for VIP Access Is Down 90%
Those seeking VIP treatment at the next Trump meme coin event didn't need to spend nearly as much as last time. Here's a breakdown of the numbers.
finance.yahoo.com