'The Trump Swamp Is Growing': President Fires Ethics Chief as DOJ Moves to Drop Eric Adams Charges

[Judi Lynn]

"Nothing says corruption like firing the top ethics cop on the beat," said Public Citizen co-president Lisa Gilbert.

Jake Johnson
Feb 11, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday fired the director of the Office of Government Ethics as his administration—packed with billionaires and riddled with conflicts of interest—abandons even the pretense of opposing corruption and lawlessness, a course underscored by the Justice Department's push to drop bribery charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

The removal of OGE chief David Huitema was announced in a brief statement on the office's website, which was inaccessible as of Tuesday morning.

Huitema, who was confirmed by the Senate at the tail-end of former President Joe Biden's term, "has been heavily involved in resolving conflicts of interest with Trump's nominees," Government Executive's Eric Katz reported Monday.

"Nothing says corruption like firing the top ethics cop on the beat," Public Citizen co-president Lisa Gilbert said in a statement Monday. "Consistent with the corporate conflicts, massive wealth, and Big Tech bro connections, the incoming administration continues to exploit all avenues to increase their ability to profit off of public service."

More:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-fires-ethics-director

[Eugene]

1. Add to that non-enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Business Practices Act and the pardon of Rod Blagojevich.

The message is unmistakable. Bribery isn't a crime anymore (unless you cross Dump).

[Lovie777]

2. Adams need to rejoin the republican party.......................

[Dennis Donovan]

3. PBS News: Justice Department orders prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams

PBS News - Justice Department orders prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams

Politics Feb 11, 2025 9:43 AM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — The Justice Department on Monday ordered federal prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, arguing in a remarkable departure from long-standing norms that the case was interfering with the mayor’s ability to aid the president’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

In a two-page memo obtained by The Associated Press, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove told prosecutors in New York that they were “directed to dismiss” the bribery charges against Adams immediately.

Bove said the order was not based on the strength of evidence in the case, but rather because it had been brought too close to Adams reelection campaign and was distracting from the mayor’s efforts to assist in the Trump administration’s law-and-order priorities.

“The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime,” Bove wrote.

/snip