They're Paying Him Off From The Get [View all]

[babylonsister]

https://digbysblog.net/2024/11/24/theyre-paying-him-off-from-the-get/

They’re Paying Him Off From The Get
Published by digby on November 24, 2024


The NY Times reports:

This is a good first clue that Trump has no intention of even pretending to follow the law this time. And why should he? He knows he has immunity:

President-elect Donald J. Trump is keeping secret the names of the donors who are funding his transition effort, a break from tradition that could make it impossible to see what interest groups, businesses or wealthy people are helping launch his second term.

Mr. Trump has so far declined to sign an agreement with the Biden administration that imposes strict limits on that fund-raising in exchange for up to $7.2 million in federal funds earmarked for the transition. By dodging the agreement, Mr. Trump can raise unlimited amounts of money from unknown donors to pay for the staff, travel and office space involved in preparing to take over the government.

Mr. Trump is the first president-elect to sidestep the restrictions, provoking alarm among ethics experts.

Those seeking to curry favor with the incoming administration now have the opportunity to donate directly to the winning candidate without their names or potential conflicts ever entering the public sphere. And unlike with campaign contributions, foreign nationals are allowed to donate to the transition.

Trump can also keep any unspent money that’s collected. Sweet.

This is way beyond the “appearance of conflict of interest” it’s the blatant appearance of corruption and considering Trump’s history, it’s almost certainly exactly that. Between the Truth Social and Bitcoin scams where people can “invest” in his money losing schemes for the purpose of currying favor, the second Trump administration is going to be a free-for-all. He will literally be running his cons right out of the oval office and no one will say a word because they are terrified he’s going to exercise his immunity and pardon power to destroy them.

That sounds hyperbolic I know. But ask yourself, “who’s going to stop him,?”