Trump Administration Must Disclose All Gifts to Legal Defense Funds
Following the news that the U.S. Office of Government Ethics has reversed its own internal policy to allow anonymous donations from lobbyists to White House staffers who have legal defense funds, ECU President Tiffany Muller released the following statement.
“Yet again, the Trump administration is seeking to skirt disclosure and let lobbyists and special interests fund the legal defense for White House staff under investigation. Lobbyists representing corporate special interests or even foreign powers could secretly fund the legal defense for White House staff under investigation for colluding with Russia during the 2016 campaign. This is completely outrageous and will only bring more corruption and conflicts of interest to an already beleaguered administration.
“We shouldn’t be surprised. Since he took office, Trump and his administration has fought against transparency efforts whether it be refusing to release his taxes or the White House visitor logs. The fact that now special interests with business before the government can bank roll the Trump’s staff’s legal defense is an insult to the American people. We deserve better. ECU calls on the Trump administration to ensure any donations towards aides’ legal defense fund are fully disclosed and transparent.”
Politico: Trump ethics watchdog moves to allow anonymous gifts to legal defense funds
By: Darren Samuelsohn
POLITICO BREAKING – Trump ethics watchdog moves to allow anonymous gifts to legal defense funds:
The U.S. Office of Government Ethics has quietly reversed its own internal policy prohibiting anonymous donations from lobbyists to White House staffers who have legal defense funds.
The little-noticed change could help President Donald Trump’s aides raise the money they need to pay attorneys as the Russia probe expands — but raises the potential for hidden conflicts of interest or other ethics trouble.