Articles tagged: Ethics

Donald Trump's Saudi Arabia Payments Spark Calls for Fresh Investigation

The former president has hosted LIV Golf tournaments at his resorts, which are funded by the gulf kingdom's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Trump’s Interior Secretary Didn’t Violate Ethics Rules, Watchdog Finds

An inspector general’s report found no evidence that David Bernhardt had improperly favored a group that once employed him as a lobbyist.

Trump and Kushner's Saudi ties are an ethical minefield - and Hunter Biden's a distraction, DC watchdog says

Congress should investigate what deals Trump and his son-in-law made with Mohammed bin Salman before leaving office, an ethics expert told Insider.

Trump’s family failed to report 100 valuable foreign gifts, say House Democrats

Former President Donald Trump’s family failed to disclose more than 100 foreign gifts valued above a reporting threshold and collectively worth more than $250,000, House Democrats said Friday.

Former Trump appointee forced to repay Treasury for misuse of funds, GOP senator announces

U.S. taxpayer resources that were "misused" by former Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton were repaid to the federal government, Sen. Chuck Grassley announced

Trump wanted to tap aides’ phones to stem leaks, former official says

Former President Trump wanted to wiretap his aides’ phones in order to pursue potential leakers, a former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) aide alleged in an upcoming book, reviewed by NBC. Miles Taylor, a senior aide to former DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, also claimed that aides had concerns about the way the former president handled…

Filthy Rich Politicians: journalist Matt K Lewis on Trump, ethics and money in Washington

New books discusses ‘disturbing’ discoveries about how politicos enrich themselves, from stocks to lobbying and book deals

Comer says Kushner ‘crossed the line of ethics’ with Saudi deal

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said Thursday that Jared Kushner, former President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser while in office, “crossed the line of ethics” by accepting a $2 billion investment from the Saudi government in his private investment firm six months after he left the White House.  In an interview on CNN’s…

Rep. Jamie Raskin promises report on ‘foreign government emoluments’ to Trump

Rep. Jamie Raskin teased new revelations about payments to Trump golf courses, hotels and other businesses.

IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn accused of disclosing Trump's tax returns

IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn was charged with disclosing tax return information of a high-ranking government official and "thousands of the nation's wealthiest people."

Trump executive says ‘presidential premium’ was floated to boost net worth

Patrick Birney said Trump executives considered adding 25% on to the Trump Tower apartment’s value as a ‘premium for presidential personal residence’.

Executive at Donald Trump’s company says 'presidential premium' was floated to boost bottom line

Donald Trump’s top corporate deputies considered adding a “presidential premium” when calculating the value of his Trump Tower penthouse, Mar-a-Lago resort and other assets during his White House years.

Senate Democrats press Thomas to recuse himself from Trump immunity case

Senate Democrats are calling on conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from ruling on former President Trump’s claim that he is immune from prosecution for alleged crimes he committed while in office.   Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and other Democrats on the panel argue that Thomas faces a conflict…

Trump viewed White House as ‘moneymaking enterprise:’ Rep. Jamie Raskin

Former President Donald Trump “tried to convert the presidency into a moneymaking enterprise,” Raskin said in the wake of findings that Trump raked in millions from foreign governments during his time in office.

Trump prosecutor under probe for ‘misuse’ of taxpayer funds fired worker who exposed federal grant abuse: report

A Trump prosecutor, who is under investigation for allegedly spending taxpayer funds on lavish trips during an affair with an attorney she hired, is being called out by a former employee for apparently abusing another federal grant, according to a new report.

Jared Kushner's New Foreign Deals Spark 'Corruption' Accusation

Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, revealed new real estate plans in Albania and Serbia on Friday.

Trump aide slams Sarah Huckabee Sanders for 'unethical behavior' exposed at criminal trial

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders partook in "unethical behavior" while employed by Donald Trump's White House, according to a former colleague's analysis.Donald Trump's former deputy press secretary, Sarah Matthews, appeared on MSNBC on Sunday to discuss a wide variety of Trump-related legal...

House Freedom Caucus chair hit by probe into 'mysterious' investments

Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), who chairs the far-right House Freedom Caucus, is competing in a tough primary race against a Republican state senator endorsed by former President Donald Trump. And now he's facing additional scrutiny over financial disclosure reports that are raising more questions than they'...

Newly Uncovered Project 2025 Training Videos Spark Concern

Leaked Project 2025 videos reveal conservative plans for federal overhaul while Trump distances himself from the initiative as scrutiny mounts.

Retired federal judge and ethics experts want Judge Cannon taken off Trump documents case

A former federal judge along with a government watchdog group and two top scholars on judicial ethics want an appeals court to reassign the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump to a new judge.

Trump still hasn’t signed ethics agreement required for presidential transition

President-elect Donald Trump has not yet submitted a series of transition agreements with the Biden administration, in part because of concerns over the mandatory ethics pledge vowing to avoid conflicts of interest once sworn in to office, CNN has learned.

Ethical Dilemma: Gaetz's Controversial Nomination

A congressional ethics panel is deadlocked on whether to release a report on alleged sexual misconduct by Matt Gaetz. The controversy centers on his nomination by President-elect Trump for attorney general. The Ethics Committee remains divided, and Gaetz's confirmation hangs in the balance.

'Most corrupt president': Outrage mounts over Trump's latest move in government takeover

Donald Trump's transition has failed to sign ethics agreements, which in turn has reportedly allowed the team to run on "secret money," and the president-elect's critics are outraged. Trump has been quick to announce his Cabinet nominations over the last two weeks, but he has been slow to reveal...

Trump seeks to have $464 million civil fraud ruling quashed for the 'good of the country'

Trump's lawyers filed a letter Tuesday with New York attorney general Letitia James, who brought the proceeding against the president-elect for manipulating his assets when applying for loans and insurances

'A wrinkle': Trump said to be potentially 'running afoul of' presidential transition rules

Donald Trump's ethics and transparency promises may be a violation of the Presential Transition Act, a report suggests.The former and incoming president raised eyebrows by missing a key deadline for signing transition agreements with the White House. He ultimately signed most of the needed documents...

House rejects effort to release Matt Gaetz ethics report

Democrats were pressing for the findings to be published even though Gaetz left Congress and withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general.

House votes against releasing Matt Gaetz ethics report for now

Democrats forced votes to compel the Ethics Committee to release its report on former Rep. Gaetz, a top Trump ally. Republicans sent the matter back to the panel.

"They let him walk": Merrick Garland's DOJ under fire after damning Matt Gaetz report released

Justice Department leaders decided against prosecuting Trump ally — and obstructed congressional ethics probe.

Elon Musk’s apparent influence over Trump is drawing conflict-of-interest accusations

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO’s corporate empire is heavily dependent on government money and favourable regulations

The Trump Organization's foreign deals pledge leaves some wiggle room

Unlike in 2017, Trump's company is not agreeing to a blanket stop on new foreign business transactions.

Judge clears way for Trump's workforce reduction plans

Trump wants to use financial incentives to encourage government employees to quit. According to the White House, tens of thousands of workers have taken the government up on its offer.

'Quite expressly a quid pro quo': Trump DOJ slammed by resigned prosecutor

Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove sent a letter excoriating now-former acting Assistant Attorney General Danelle Sassoon after she sent her resignation to Attorney General Pam Bondi. And her letter makes allegations against Bove that could end up in court, a legal analyst warned Thursday on M...

Feds formally move to toss Adams corruption charges after wave of resignations protesting Trump DOJ order to drop case

Federal prosecutors formally moved to toss the historic corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams Friday following a wave of resignations in protest of the Justice Department's orders for the case to be killed.

Elon Musk's Chainsaw Crusade: A Bold Move to Slash Government Waste

Elon Musk, spearheading cost-cutting efforts in President Trump's administration, mandates federal workers to justify their weekly accomplishments, threatening non-responses as resignations. This move is part of larger efforts to reduce government size, leading to massive workforce cuts. Employee unions condemn the ultimatum as disrespectful and unlawful.

Columbia should have said ‘see you in court’, not ‘yes, Mr President’

Institutions must resist thuggish bullying. There is no satisfying Trump. He will move the goalposts again and again

Schiff and Warren demand inquiry into Trump meme coin dinner

President Donald Trump revealed earlier this month that he would host a dinner at his private club in Washington, D.C., with the top 220 holders of his meme coin.

Trump presidential orders target law firms. Here's how some lawyers say that threatens the rule of law.

In recent weeks, President Trump has signed orders targeting several law firms. Some lawyers warn that the president's assault on the legal profession threatens the rule of law itself.

No, Pres. Trump: Qatar's 'Palace in the Sky' Jet isn't a 'free gift'

President Donald Trump is bragging of winning a $400 million “gift” — a “palace in the sky” Boeing 747-8 jet — from Qatar that, in effect, he’ll eventually own personally. But in truth, it's far from free; Qatar will surely expect something in return. And the optics are obscene.

U.S. formally accepts Qatar-gifted jet for Trump's use as Air Force One

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted a luxury Boeing 747 aircraft from Qatar for U.S. President Donald Trump to use as Air Force One, the Pentagon said Wednesday, despite ongoing questions about the ethics and legality of taking the expensive gift from a foreign nation.

Big Tech quietly sponsors Trump’s military parade party

The US taxpayer is going to be on the hook for all the soldiers, tanks, and planes that appear in Donald Trump's military parade. But several major tech companies are paying for the festivities along the parade route. According to recent statements from Ameri…

Exclusive-Kennedy's new vaccine adviser was expert witness against Merck vaccine

(Reuters) -One of the new vaccine advisers picked by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has earned thousands of dollars as an expert witness in...

Trump merchandise sold at Fort Bragg for president's speech now under review

The Army is reviewing why pro-Trump merchandise was sold at Fort Bragg this week at an event orchestrated by the White House and supporters of President Donald Trump.

Senate Democrats seek probe of Ed Martin's early actions at DOJ

Senate Judiciary Democrats are pushing for an investigation into Ed Martin's early tenure at the Justice Department.

Almost all of the Fulbright board resigns, citing Trump administration interference

Former Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board members said the Trump administration usurped their authority by denying awards to "a substantial number" of the individuals it had selected for the program.

Exclusive: Congressman Tim Moore failed to properly disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of personal stock purchases made around Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ in a potential STOCK Act violation

Moore did not publicly disclose a dozen stock trades that he made throughout April until Friday, which is well after a federal deadline for doing so.

Trump’s New Cash Grab Is a Gold iPhone Lookalike That’s Worse Than Any Budget Android

When conflict of interest calls, Trump answers.

Trump’s FTC Turns Consumer Protection Into MAGA Protection Racket

When Andrew Ferguson made his pitch to Donald Trump to take over the organization, his one-page “pick me” plea talked about “ending” former FTC Chair Lina Khan’s “politically motivated investigations.” We pointed out at the time how hilarious it was that he t…

Trump administration actions contradict MAHA rhetoric on toxic chemicals

Trump says he backs the MAHA agenda which includes eliminating toxins linked to human health problems. But his administration continues to cuts funds, grants and regulations that support that goal.

The New Danger in Trump’s Washington: Honoring Federal Employees

Can recognition for outstanding work suddenly be a bad thing?

Forget superintelligence – we need to tackle 'stupid' AI first

Tech CEOs and politicians alike are preparing for the day that superintelligent AI takes over, whilst failing to deal with the issues in front of them – from copyright to autonomous killing machines

Donald Trump Completely Destroyed The White House Rose Garden, And These Before-And-After Photos Are Unthinkable

President Donald Trump has vowed to pave over the grass...

ICE Is Now Trying To Convince Congress Members It Needs 72-Hours Notice Before Facility Inspections

This was never an issue before, but it’s suddenly an issue now that ICE has gone full Gestapo to keep up with Trump’s mass deportation demands. ICE’s tactics — unmarked vehicles, masked officers, and untargeted raids of any place that might contain foreigners…

National Park Service Invites Americans To Disappear ‘Disparaging’ History From Public Places

The Trump Administration(s) aren’t simply content to declare satire dead. Trump’s reappearance in the Oval Office demands we dig up the corpse and desecrate it. And while we’re desecrating that corpse, why not desecrate a few national landmarks? That’s the pi…

A Military Ethics Professor Resigns in Protest

Over the course of several months, Pauline Shanks Kaurin concluded she no longer had the academic freedom necessary for doing her job.

We Have All Become Too Comfortable With Corruption

For years, we’ve written about the concept of “soft corruption,” which is the idea that there are certain actions that may not mean the full definition of corrupt practices in the legal sense, but are so obviously corrupt that they make people more cynical to…

Trump Is Doing Crypto Corruption With a Billionaire Leader of Fake Country: Report

Trump's crypto deals with Justin Sun, a Chinese billionaire who wants recognition for Liberland, a micronation in Europe, raises ethical concerns.

Kristi Noem Secretly Pocketed Cash From Dark Money Group: Report

The Homeland Security secretary didn’t disclose $80,000 she accepted during her time as South Dakota's governor, according to ProPublica

10 Sunday Reads

Avert your eyes! My Sunday morning look at incompetency, corruption and policy failures: • The first rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down: A new culture of secrecy in government is taking root — among career staffers and new political appoint…

America Has Never Seen Corruption Like This

Trump’s Qatari jet was just the beginning.

Attorney General Pam Bondi fires top Justice Department ethics official

Attorney General Pam Bondi has fired one of the top officials tasked with advising her and other senior DOJ officials of their ethical obligations, a source confirms.

Pam Bondi Fires DOJ's Top Ethics Advisor and Misspells His Name in Letter

Joseph Tirrell's termination letter didn't explain why he was being terminated, but he posted it on LinkedIn Monday morning, which showed his name spelled “JOSPEH,” not Joseph.

Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard Are Wasting Resources Trying To Root Out Gov’t Employees Who Just Aren’t MAGA Enough

In the Trump administration, every political appointee is now their own personal Richard Nixon. Simply being some of the most powerful people in the world is never enough for Trump and those in his inner circle. If you can’t demand complete loyalty from every…

Federal workers say they're exhausted, anxious, and left in the dark after 6 months of DOGE

6 months into DOGE, Business Insider spoke with 22 federal workers who stayed. They're mourning fired colleagues and trying to find a way forward.

Donald Trump Jr.’s Drone Ventures Could Make a Killing — Thanks to Dad’s Big Beautiful Budget

After Trump was reelected, his son took stakes in several drone companies. They’re now raising ethics concerns. The post Donald Trump Jr.’s Drone Ventures Could Make a Killing — Thanks to Dad’s Big Beautiful Budget appeared first on The Intercept.

Democrats ask how Trump’s government will regulate Trump Mobile

When a Trump-branded phone on a Trump-branded mobile network launches sometime this year (if all goes according to plan), US regulators will face what's become a recurring conundrum in Donald Trump's presidency: how to regulate a product with ties to the head…

Weaponizing the Watchdog

Donald Trump’s fascist takeover of government is a comprehensive affair, and sometimes it’s the little things that reveal just how thoroughly his administration has been dismantling our democratic infrastructure. On June 16 Trump nominated the thirty-year-old…

Intel CEO Responds to Trump’s Threat

Intel’s chief executive says there is a lot of ‘misinformation’ circulating about his past.

Trump’s Pick for Stats Chief Loves This Nazi Warship & Is Bad at Math

It also looks like he was at the Capitol on January 6. Sweet!

The White House Keeps a ‘Loyalty’ Scorecard for Companies: Report

Remember Nixon's enemies list?

Trump has bought more than $100m in bonds in office, disclosure shows

Trump's investments include Meta, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and T-Mobile, according to filing.

FEMA workers put on leave after letter criticising Trump administration

Employees expressed outrage over budget cuts, personnel decisions, other reforms enacted under President Donald Trump.

FBI: Making America Great Means Lowering The Bar For New Hires

Trump’s desire to punish, oust, and eject anyone who isn’t white and/or MAGA enough from this country means the preferred outlets for his aggression are running out of manpower. Tons of federal officers have already been rerouted to immigration enforcement, l…

EPA Fires 5 Employees Who Signed ‘Dissent’ Letter

The EPA fired five agency employees who signed a June declaration decrying moves that contradict science and undermine public health, alongside four more served removal notices

Judge Says Trump FCC Being ‘Vague And Uninformative’ In Response To DOGE-Related Lawsuit

Back in April, the Trump FCC was sued by Nina Burleigh and Frequency Forward, alleging that Elon Musk’s influence in government was “creating unmanageable conflicts of interest within the FCC.” There’s not much debate there; Musk is getting slathered in new t…

Trump accuses foes with multiple mortgages of fraud. Records show 3 of his Cabinet members have them

In one case, a Trump cabinet secretary got two such mortgages in quick succession.

Secret Service Suspends Agent Following Shocking Comments About Charlie Kirk’s Death

The U.S. Secret Service has placed an agent on leave and revoked his security clearance after he posted negative comments about conservative commentator...

Trump Is Accusing Foes With Multiple Mortgages Of Fraud. Records Show Three Of His Cabinet Members Have Them.

This story was originally published by ProPublica. Republished under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. The Trump administration has vowed to go after anyone who got lower mortgage rates by claiming more than one primary residence on their loan papers. President Dona…

With Trump's state visit days away, blame game begins over Mandelson scandal

There is growing disquiet over the roles of Starmer, his chief of staff and Whitehall vetting in the saga.

UC Berkeley shares information on 160 staff, students with US government

Among those listed is feminist philosopher Judith Butler, who likened the move to a 'practice from the McCarthy era'.

Beyond 'draining the swamp': How Trump is knocking down checks on presidential power

President Trump wants to be able to fire far more executive branch employees at will — upending checks on presidential power that have existed for more than a century.

US Treasury Sec Bessent accused of contradictory mortgage pledges: Report

The Bloomberg News report comes as the White House pushes to fire fed governor Lisa Cook for a similar reason.

Sure, Let’s Try Bribes!

If taxpayers want to influence policy, maybe this is our only option.

If the Trump DOJ can indict Comey, then no one is safe from political prosecution

In the United States, a president should never order prosecutions of his enemies. As the former ethics counsels for Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, we never once saw them or anyone working for them suggest that the Department of Just…

Trump administration uses taxpayer dollars to blame Democrats for government shutdown

Federal employees across the government reported seeing similar messages. Experts say the messages may violate ethics laws meant to keep partisan politics out of day-to-day governing.

US removes senior officials over Biden-era airline passenger watchlist

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration said Tuesday it is removing five senior officials on suspicion of targeting former president Joe Biden's...

Trump Administration Stomps All Over The Hatch Act With Shutdown Website Banners And Away Messages

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a beautiful piece of legislation. It disallows all kinds of things, like bribing voters with jobs to vote a certain way, as well as limiting any campaign activity by federal workers. Another thing it does is to prohibit partisan polit…

FBI agents are resisting Director Kash Patel’s political agenda

Will Patel be held accountable?

Exclusive-Trump official bypassed ethics rules in criminal referrals of Fed governor and other foes, sources say

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump appointee accusing the president’s political foes of mortgage fraud skipped over his agency’s inspector general when making...

‘Sharpiegate’ Meteorologist Is Officially the Head of NOAA. Here’s What That Could Mean for the Agency Under Trump

Neil Jacobs, who was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday, was found to have violated the agency's code of ethics during the first Trump administration.

ICE Will Hold Immigrants in Jail Accused of “Excessive, Invasive” Gynecological Procedures

The Georgia facility gained notoriety for allegations that women received “often unnecessary” gynecological treatment, at times lacking informed consent. The post ICE Will Hold Immigrants in Jail Accused of “Excessive, Invasive” Gynecological Procedures appea…

Trump overheard on 'hot mic' apparently talking business with Indonesian leader

President Trump was apparently overheard discussing what seemed to be a Trump family business venture with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

Kristi Noem Is Trying to Use Airports to Spread Propaganda

One Portland airport spokesperson said: “We did not consent to playing the video in its current form, as we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes and messaging.”

El Paso officials slam DHS government shutdown video at airport

El Paso officials are condemning a DHS video at the airport, citing political bias, Hatch Act concerns, and a lack of local input.

AP: Paul Ingrassia nomination

President Donald Trump 's pick to lead a federal watchdog agency withdrew from consideration Tuesday evening, after his offensive text messages were made public and GOP senators revolted.

VP Vance tries to progress Gaza ceasefire. And, White House demolition draws critics

Vice President JD Vance is in Israel to address challenges in the Gaza ceasefire. And, the demolition of the East Wing of the White House has drawn criticism and raised questions about ethics.

Pentagon accepts $130 million donation to pay troops during shutdown

While large and unusual, the $130 million gift amounts to a small contribution toward the billions needed to cover service member paychecks.

Mystery donor gives $130m to US military for paying troops during shutdown

The man is a US citizen and a Trump supporter, the president has said, but no one in the government will identify the donor.

“Mystery donor” brings in more military pay and ethical concerns

Anonymous donation keeps military paychecks flowing — concerns now on privatizing patriotism and government failure

Trump ousts watchdog of US housing regulator involved in mortgage probes of his foes, sources say

(Clarifies paragraph 7 to show standard agency policy on letters to Congress) By Sarah N. Lynch, Chris Prentice and Marisa Taylor WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The...

Federal Websites Are Plastered With MAGA Propaganda. Is It Legal?

The Trump administration is plastering federal websites with propaganda blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. Does it violate the Hatch Act?

Conservative Judge Resigns Rather Than Stay Silent On Trump’s Constitutional Assault

Reagan-appointed federal judge Mark Wolf has resigned from the bench in Massachusetts, and his explanation is blunt: he can no longer bear the ethical constraints that prevent judges from speaking out publicly while Trump dismantles the rule of law. This does…

Epstein emails with author Wolff raise journalism ethics questions: Experts

While journalists build ties with sources to obtain information, scholars say certain boundaries must be maintained.

New report exposes massive corruption in Kristi Noem's Department of Homeland Security

Jen Psaki shares new bombshell reporting from Pro Publica on the unseemly ties between Department of Homeland Security insiders and companies paid hundreds...

Kristi Noem-linked firm secretly got money from $220 million DHS ad contracts

The company is run by the husband of Noem’s chief DHS spokesperson and has ties to Noem and her aides.

Ex-Fed Governor Kugler faced ethics probe before she resigned

Kugler also faced a probe by the Fed’s internal watchdog related to her recent financial disclosures before stepping down in August, according to a document ...

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers says he's stepping away from public life after Epstein emails surface

Senator Elizabeth Warren says Harvard should sever ties with Summers, who teaches economics at the university.

Ex-Harvard president Larry Summers steps back from public role after Epstein email release

The former US treasury secretary says he is "ashamed" of his emails to Jeffrey Epstein.

438 Reasons to Doubt that David Sacks Should Work for the Federal Government

His investments may expose him to conflicts of interest. They also probably distort common sense.

Scores of government statisticians are gone, leaving data at risk, report says

The ranks of U.S. government statisticians have been gutted in the past year due to layoffs and buyouts. One agency lost 95% of its staff, while others...

Ilhan Omar’s hubby’s $30M firm quietly scrubs names from website – as ‘Squad’ member faces mounting questions on sudden wealth amid Minnesota welfare fraud

The Jimmy Choo wearing socialist introduced the MEALS Act to Congress in 2020, relaxing oversight of children's meals programs and paving the way for the scheme the feds said could top $9 billion.

Trump’s Travel Bans Threaten US National Security

For all Donald Trump’s talk about security, he proves far more interested in lining his own pockets. No country that hosts a major Trump-branded property or strikes a high-profile business deal with a member of Trump’s inner circle – including some with well-…

There’s Compelling Evidence That Someone Connected to the Trump Administration Profited Off the Invasion of Venezuela by Placing Large Bets on Polymarket

"Pete Hegseth making some beer money on the side?"

HHS Gave a $1.6 Million Grant to a Controversial Vaccine Study. These Emails Show How That Happened

Two Danish researchers faced accusations of “questionable research practices” as RFK Jr.’s top appointees made their study a “funding priority”

Complaint accuses Trump’s criminal attorney of “blatant” crypto conflict in his role at DOJ

Todd Blanche ordered changes to crypto prosecutions while owning more than $150,000 in digital assets.

Trump Demands $10 Billion From Taxpayers For Leaked Tax Returns; His Own Lawyers Get To Decide What He Gets

Back in May, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt offered what might be the single most audacious statement of the Trump era—and that’s saying something: I think everybody – the American public believe it’s absurd for anyone to insinuate that this pre…

Six senators accuse deputy attorney general of “glaring” crypto conflict

An investigation found Todd Blanche owned at least $159,000 in related assets when he shut down crypto probes.

Senator Elizabeth Warren is sounding the alarm on Trump’s 'spy sheikh' crypto deal

Senator demands probe after report links Emirati intelligence chief to secret investment in U.S. crypto venture.

Trump Dodges When Asked About Bombshell WSJ Report on 'Secret' Foreign Investment

President Donald Trump was asked on Monday in the Oval Office to react to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal that a crypto company owned by him and...

US contractor sent Gaza plan to White House that would secure 300% profits

Gothams LLC’s draft proposal, obtained by the Guardian, suggests seven-year trucking and logistics monopoly

White House faces questions over UAE royal's investment in Trump family's crypto firm

President Donald Trump's administration is under growing pressure from congressional Democrats related to conflict of interest concerns over the Trump family's business.

More Corruption Allegations Levied at Trump Over Newly Revealed UAE Crypto Deal

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy called the reported deal “mind-blowing corruption.”

Trump family’s $4 billion graft shows no signs of stopping

The multibillion-dollar profiteering is snowballing in an anything-goes presidency

US Commerce Secretary Lutnick downplays Epstein ties amid resignation calls

Lutnick, a prominent member of the Trump adminstration, faced Senate questions over a 2012 meeting he had with Epstein.

Howard Lutnick’s Epstein Island Visit Puts Spotlight on His Past Crypto Ties

Trust him?

US president’s son Eric Trump invests in drone maker with gov’t contracts

Israel's Xtend recently won US Defense Department contract, is bidding for another before merger with JFB Construction.

Trump would like the government he leads to pay him billions

President Trump is asking the federal government for billions of dollars in damages, putting his own Justice Department on the spot and creating an unprecedented ethical morass.

Trump Wants An Airport Renamed After Him While His Company Trademarks Those Same Names

Remember how Donald Trump was going to “drain the swamp” as president? The idea, spilling out from his first campaign for president, was that Washington was horribly corrupt, that politicians and unelected government stooges were making money from their posit…

What to know about the Gordie Howe Windsor-Detroit bridge at the centre of Donald Trump's threats

U.S. Democrats are probing the relationship between Donald Trump and the owner of the nearly century-old Ambassador Bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ont., after the president threatened to block this year's planned opening of a competing crossing — the Gor…

Elizabeth Warren, Other Democrats Applaud as Trump Condemns Congressional Stock Trading | Video

Howard Lutnick scrutiny grows as new photo shows him with Epstein

Trump commerce secretary – who lived next door to Epstein in New York – urged to testify about extent of relationship

President Trump, Pam Bondi sued over sale of TikTok assets

The case, filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., accuses the Trump administration of ignoring legislation designed to stop the spread of Chinese propaganda — and instead helping to broker a partial sale to businessmen close to Trump.

Trump's TikTok Deal Benefited Firms That 'Personally Enriched' Him, Lawsuit Says

An anti-corruption group has filed a lawsuit (PDF) against Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi over the deal that transferred TikTok's U.S. operations to a group of investors tied to the administration. The suit claims the arrangement violates a 2024 …

From ProPublica, a database of financial disclosures...

From ProPublica, a database of financial disclosures from the Trump regime’s political appointees. “Use this database to explore potential conflicts of interest

With boom in prediction markets, some lawmakers worry about how to police themselves

House and Senate ethics committees give no financial disclosure guidance on event contracts or prediction markets — unlike stock, cryptocurrency and bond trades.

This DHS Official Oversees the Security of Federal Elections. He Wants to Ban Voting Machines.

David Harvilicz, who co-founded a firm with a 2020 election denier, oversees voting machine security for the Department of Homeland Security while the Trump administration is relitigating the president’s baseless claims that the 2020 vote was stolen.

Trump Gets $10 Billion Kickback To The Treasury For Offloading TikTok To His Billionaire Buddies

We’ve discussed at length how Trump’s “fix” for TikTok’s problems basically involved forcing the sale of the platform to his greedy billionaire buddies (with the help of pathetic Democrats). The deal fixed none of the real issues Trumpland pretended to be con…

Federal Cyber Experts Thought Microsoft’s Cloud Was Garbage. They Approved It Anyway.

The government relies, in part, on third-party firms to vet cloud technology, but those firms are hired and paid by the company being assessed.

House panel finds Florida Democrat guilty of ethics violations

The House Ethics Committee has found evidence that Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick violated House rules. This comes after the panel held a rare public hearing to review investigations into allegations against the Florida Democrat.

You Can Prob Guess Who Just Blocked 2 Women and 2 Black Officials from Their Pentagon Promotions

Unfortunately, you can probably also guess who reportedly didn’t want to “stand next” to a Black female officer at military events.

Pete Hegseth Blocks Promotions in Middle of War for Dumbest Reason

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s rampant racism and sexism extends farther than we previously knew. Hegseth has made efforts to block or delay the promotion of more than one dozen female and Black officers across the Army, Air Force, Navy, and the Marines, ac…

The Trump Administration Is Trying to Erase Its Own History

If a new legal opinion stands, Donald Trump will be on track to become one of the most poorly documented presidents ever.

Trump Is Exposed Bending Key Policy to Benefit Himself

Donald Trump changed course on a key policy of his administration after being influenced by business pals at one of his Florida golf clubs. Trump, 79, met...

Trump Crypto Projects Facing Lawsuit, Potential Ethics Crackdown, and More

World Liberty Financial is hitting choppy waters.

United Airlines And Boeing Paid For The Transportation Secretary’s New Reality Show

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s family road-trip reality show is pitched as a patriotic YouTube series for America’s 250th birthday. The problem is who helped fund it: companies including United, Boeing and Toyota — all with major business before the De…

How the Trump administration has undermined the fight against public corruption

At least 15 former elected officials and co-conspirators with corruption offenses have been pardoned by President Trump in the last year, undermining the fight against public corruption.

ICYMI, the Trump Admin Wants to Create a Slush Fund for Trump’s Biggest Suck-Ups

At the top of minds over this grift-launch is the likelihood that it will be used to give handouts to Jan. 6 insurrectionists.

I'm Filing for Justice Samuel Alito's Disbarment

A billionaire gave him a gift, then won billions in his courtroom. The federal system that should have stopped it has refused. Three state offices still can.

Can Anything Stop Donald Trump’s Corruption?

The President’s stock dealing, $1.8-billion “anti-weaponization” slush fund, and grant of immunity from the I.R.S. demonstrate the need for major ethics reforms. John Cassidy reports.

Nancy Pelosi caught heat for $59M in trades over 3 years. Trump just disclosed up to $750M in 3 months.

Nancy Pelosi disclosed about $59 million in trades over three years, which inspired a Senate bill bearing her name. But President Donald Trump disclosed up...

Tillis Compares Paxton Ethics Scandal To Dahmer's 'Diet Problems'

Sen. Thom Tillis took apart Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton in Texas by making one comparison that undoes any right wing propaganda in support of Paxton that Trump and his allies put forth. Sen. Tillis joined Jake Tapper on CNN and was asked how he felt whe…

Trump administration proposes non-disclosure agreements for US federal workers

By Courtney Rozen WASHINGTON, May 26 (Reuters) - U.S.

White House proposes NDAs for all US federal workers

Trump administration threatens legal action against employees who leak, aiming to curb information flow to journalists.

Trump Admin Removed Treasury Official After She Objected to Printing $250 Bill with Trump’s Face

As if it needs to be said, it is plainly illegal under U.S. law for the Treasury to print a new $250 bill with Trump's face on it.

Judge orders Trump's name removed from the Kennedy Center

President Trump had his name added to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, having stacked its board with cronies, then closed the center for "renovations" after credible performers began giving the fabled institution a wide berth. — Re…

The Trump Administration Wants to Frighten Would-Be Whistleblowers

A proposal to push federal workers to sign nondisclosure agreements is part of a bigger effort to hide government secrets.

Can a US president promote stock they’ve invested in

Can a US president promote stock they’ve invested in

UK media fails to disclose defence sector links in nearly 60% of cases

Here AOAV finds that UK media outlets frequently present retired senior military figures as independent defence experts without disclosing their commercial ties to defence, security, intelligence, and technology industries, potentially obscuring conflicts of …

GOP candidate pushed to award a donor with a government contract

Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina is hoping his record in South Texas will carry him to Congress

The Trump Administration Keeps Promoting Slop History

It’s been a puzzling period for formal expressions of patriotic nostalgia. On two separate occasions this week, the federal government publicized false quotations of iconic American presidents, fumbling attempts to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.T…

Republicans Are Dismantling a Key Tool in the War Against Kleptocrats

For the past 18 months, nearly all of the efforts to demolish America’s anti-corruption architecture have come from one source: the White House. Under President Trump, it was the White House that announced both the elimination of task forces specifically task…

The Trump Administration Wants to Keep National Park Deaths Quiet

A leaked memo from U.S. Department of the Interior has blocked National Parks staff from confirming deaths or “the severity of injuries” sustained by any park patrons.

Cash Patel: FBI Director Apparently Paying Off FBI Allies With Personal Slush Fund

This is not the only administration to engage in corruption. Most administrations have to some extent. It’s that corruption is the everyday, front-page business of this administration. It’s so brazen, it’s insulting. It demands Americans pretend nothing matte…

From Truman's pension to Trump's billions - a White House windfall unmatched by any president

The White House has refuted claims that Trump is profiting off the presidency and said he doesn't have any conflicts of interest.

Trump secured over $50 million in loan from Charles Schwab in 2025, ethics filing shows

July 1 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump secured a more than $50 million loan last year from Charles Schwab Bank, according to his annual disclosure fo...

Donald Trump Reports $2.2B In Personal Revenue During First Year Of Second Presidential Term

Donald Trump personally collected $2.2 billion during the first year of his second presidential term, according to a disclosure form released Tuesday by the U.S. Office Of Government Ethics. The amount of gains largely reflects Trump’s significant stake in th…

Trump Unconvincingly Bemoans That His Kids Have ‘Inside Information’ When They Do Business

Trump said that his children have access to "inside information" due to his presidency and then likened their woes to buying a frosted pastry.

Bribe Paying For More Pavement On White House Grounds

Are you having trouble keeping track of all of the ways that President Donald Trump is desecrating Washington, D.C., with his signature blend of shoddiness, cronyism, bad taste, and grift? There are many, so we should all forgive ourselves for not catching hi…

A Government of Trump, by Trump, and for Trump

A very special guest post from Tom Engelhardt. The post A Government of Trump, by Trump, and for Trump appeared first on The Intercept.

Trump's corporate endorsements put government fingers on the scale of business

Ethics watchdogs are worried that Trump's actions could incentivize companies to view the government as transactional.

During His Confirmation Hearing, Todd Blanche Defends Trump's Blatantly Corrupt IRS 'Settlement' (opinion)

Contradicting a federal judge, the acting attorney general, who blessed that cozy arrangement, insists it was not a product of collusion or self-dealing.

Trump’s Teleprompter Guy Allegedly Made $100k Betting on the President’s Speeches

The White House press secretary insisted, "there are very strict ethical guidelines here at the White House," on Thursday.

Todd Blanche Describes the Huge, Unprecedented Favors Granted by Trump's IRS 'Settlement' as 'Typical'

During his confirmation hearing, the attorney general nominee repeatedly misrepresented the nature and scope of the sweeping immunity deal he approved.

FCC Officials Took Pricey Gifts From Paramount As The Company Needed Approval For Billion-Dollar Deals

This story was originally published by ProPublica. Republished under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. The rich and famous who filed into the Kennedy Center’s opera house in December were there to enjoy one of the nation’s most exclusive celebrations of the performi…

Trump allies could weaken historic preservation rules to fast-track federal projects

A council packed with Trump appointees is poised to rewrite historic preservation rules. Critics say that could help him build his D.C. arch faster — and endanger important sites across the country.

Elizabeth Warren says House stock trading ban has 'major loopholes' — 48% of Congress still owns individual stocks

The legislation bans individual stock trading among members of Congress and their families — but they can keep current stock portfolios intact and reinvest a...

Why I Left Google DeepMind

I fought against Google's Pentagon AI deal from the inside. Powerful people and institutions failed to keep their AI ethics promises under pressure.

Trump shattered ethics norms. Will voters trust Democrats to fix them?

Democrats are making the case that now is the time to tackle anti-corruption reforms — to serve as a check on Donald Trump and to overhaul a system voters say is co-opted against their interests.

The Trump Administration Tells the Truth

A government lawyer admitted in a court filing that the administration withheld grants based on whom states had voted for.

'Great grass': Trump plugs Scotts Miracle-Gro, a company that he says did the White House a favor

Trump endorsed Scotts Miracle-Gro from Oval Office, saying it replaced White House lawn for free, raising ethics concerns.

‘Is she even allowed to be doing this?’: Inside a federal judge’s side gig running a PR firm

Jennifer Mascott’s tenure at public affairs firm Adfero sparked questions around conflicts of interest and partisanship.

The Trump Administration Turned a Leaking Reflecting Pool Into a National Landmark That Peeled, Turned Green, and Became a Symbol of a Government That Won’t Admit It Was Wrong

A troubled repair to one of the capital’s most recognizable landmarks has turned into a lasting embarrassment, and the story of how it happened runs through an unqualified decision-maker, a first-time contractor, and a refusal to admit fault.

'Terrified Of Written Records': Interior Staffers Are Shredding The Evidence

Interior Department staffers are describing a Secretary Doug Burgum operation so allergic to accountability that it's routinely destroying its own paper trail. Three current or former officials told Politico that Interior employees have been shredding docume…

Democratic lawmakers want answers about who's managing Trump's stock portfolio

Lawmaker sent a letter to President Trump asking for details about who was controlling his stock portfolio, which gained $2 billion last year.

It’s about ethics in journalism, with Ben Smith

Today I’m talking to Ben Smith, the editor-in-chief of Semafor. Everywhere you go, people say they don’t trust the media — and yet they’ve never consumed more of it. Audiences have moved on from legacy names in favor of Substacks and podcasts and TikTok news …

Ousted L3Harris CEO Chris Kubasik forfeits $45 million—but he’ll still walk away with $80 million in stock and options

The ex-CEO was previously forced to resign from Lockheed Martin after a 2012 ethics investigation confirmed he had a personal relationship with a subordinate...

Watchdog files bar complaint against Jeanine Pirro over bid to indict 6 Democratic lawmakers

A legal watchdog says it filed bar complaints on Tuesday accusing U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and two lieutenants of violating their ethical duties in seekin...

Ex-White House teleprompter operator to pay $172,000 for Trump speech bets

The staffer was found to have used his prior knowledge of the president's speeches to place lucrative bets.

Trump Is Taking a Stake in Venezuela's Oil Industry and This Crony Is Cashing In

Alejandro Betancourt has become the key go-between for the Trump administration, Venezuela’s new regime, and American oil companies.

Watchdog report alleges misconduct by Trump’s former labour secretary

Lori Chavez-DeRemer reportedly used staff for personal tasks, drank at work and violated ethics regulations.

Trump Still Hiding Where His Imported Beef Is Coming From

Donald Trump’s plan to screw U.S. ranchers with imported beef is bad enough. But his deliberate concealment of where and how he’s getting it makes the whole thing stink even more, with whiffs of corruption. Trump’s obvious nervousness about what he’s up to wi…

Trump’s Apparent Crypto Conflicts Could Sink the CLARITY Act

A Republican senator is now openly saying ethics language could be what finally kills the bill.

Trump gave aide Natalie Harp a $45,000 holiday cash gift, disclosure shows

Federal employees are generally barred from receiving compensation beyond their government salaries.

Trump’s Pick for Surgeon General Holds Investments in Tech, Tobacco, Fast Food, and Big Pharma

Former Fox News contributor Nicole Saphier is Trump's third nominee for Surgeon General in his second term.

Trump agrees to new bipartisan ethics provision in massive crypto bill, Republican senators say

President Donald Trump has agreed to a significant portion of a stringent ethics proposal that is part of broader cryptocurrency legislation headed for a key...

Putin ally hosted Trump Jr.'s wedding bash. Congress wants to know why

The inquiry follows reporting that the Russian oligarch paid for "hundreds of thousands of dollars of wedding expenses," including renting a private island.

Trump and Rubio’s Friends Secretly Prepping to Cash in on Cuba

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump are trying to bring down Cuba’s government, and their friends and allies are looking to profit from it. The Guardian reports that Republican donors, Cuban exiles, and even Trump Organization executives are al…

Top oversight Dem opens investigation of Donald Trump Jr.’s Russian oligarch-funded wedding

Rep. Robert Garcia said the revelations that Umar Kremlev had bankrolled the wedding raise “serious" concerns

US Republican calls for probe into Donald Trump Jr’s business dealings

US Senator John Curtis's letter marks a rare effort by a member of the president's own party to hold him accountable.

Collins denies allegations in corruption report: 'Absolutely outrageous'

The ProPublica report said a GOP consultant asked a defense firm for big donations to her campaign in exchange for millions in federal funding.

Trump reveals millions of dollars' worth of share deals in big tech and AI

Stock in major firms such as Microsoft, Nvidia and SpaceX was bought and sold on behalf of the US president.

Is the Trump administration's campaign-style ad on Fox News taxpayer-funded?

The 30-second spot includes the disclosure "Paid for by the U.S. Government."

Trump Quietly Killed AI Safeguard After Accepting Millions

President Trump scuttled a major AI guardrail after a series of tech executives donated to his political operation.The Lever reports that in September 2024, the Biden administration began the process of implementing a rule that required AI companies to report…

Apparently It Is Still Possible to (At Least Briefly) Shame a Supreme Court Justice

Justice Alito recused himself from a climate change case that could benefit him financially ... which probably means it's already decided.

Trump to host another gala with investors in his meme coin

President Trump will again meet with top investors in his namesake meme coin in what critics call another example of the president attempting to profit from his position.

We’ll never know the art of Jeff Landry’s Meta, SpaceX deals

The MAGA Louisiana governor has buried his deals with Meta and SpaceX under a mountain of NDAs

Former GOP Rep. David Rivera gets 10 years for secret Venezuela lobbying

MIAMI (AP) — A former Miami congressman and longtime friend of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison in connection with a secret $50 million lobbying campaign on Venezuela’s behalf during the first Trump administration…

How Much Mel Gibson is Too Much Mel Gibson in the U.S. Government?

A new report says the DOJ official who was allegedly fired for refusing to give Gibson special treatment was told to do so because of his “personal relationship” with Trump.

GOP Rep's Campaign Is Quietly Imploding Over Stock Trade Ban

Rep. Bryan Steil made his lead on banning congressional stock trading the main platform of his reelection bid. It turns out to have been a very poor choice. Steil is running a rather cynical and hypocritical ad boasting about his bill to ban congressional sto…

Jared Kushner Secretly Uses Another Peace Deal to Boost His Business

Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have used peace negotiations with Russia to concoct a multibillion-dollar deal to benefit their foreign business partners and political allies.  In the latest installment of the most corrupt administration in history, the dynam…

Kristi Noem Has Some Explaining to Do

On her way out of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem may have gotten one of her donors a sweet deal.President Trump fired Noem from the Cabinet in March over a series of scandals including how DHS handled contracts. But, she didn’t leave the age…

Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey's new Pentagon roles raise ethics worries

Musk's company, SpaceX, and Luckey's company Anduril, could potentially benefit from recommendations made in the study about future autonomous weapon systems.

Trump sons' investments have won billions in Pentagon contracts since his election

President Donald Trump announced a $6.6 billion investment with AI defense company Anduril Industries on Tuesday -- the most recent government funding agreement into a company with investment ties to the president's sons.  The Trump administration announced …

Why Paramount-Warner merger has sparked fears about press freedom

Chairman's family ties to Trump and Israel raise questions over editorial independence at CNN and CBS.

U.S. Ambassador Guilfoyle pushed donor to wire $100K to Amex account, report says

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday flatly refused to comment on a new report alleging that U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle engaged in improper and possibly illegal conduct before taking up her post. Rubio told …

Trump donor accuses Guilfoyle of asking him to pay her $100K credit card bill

Asked whether he thought Guilfoyle was asking for the payment in exchange for something, Deters told ABC News "absolutely."

Trump’s Team of Mercenaries

People around the president are using their roles to cash in. They learned it by watching him.

Crew Members on Ben Shapiro’s Pro-ICE Film Were Surprised by the Movie’s MAGA Politics. What Did They Deserve to Know?

A crew member who quit "Pawn Shop" says they wouldn't have taken the job had they known more about the pro-ICE action movie — raising questions about what indie productions should disclose before workers sign on.

Pete Hegseth’s Military of the Future: Defined by AI and an Utter Lack of Oversight

In announcing Project Meridian and a new Autonomous Warfare Command, War Secretary Pete Hegseth is inviting conflicts of interest. The post Pete Hegseth’s Military of the Future: Defined by AI and an Utter Lack of Oversight appeared first on The Intercept.

Trump Official Hides Damning Report on Israel Killing Americans

American diplomats are supposed to represent the interests of the U.S. above everything else.David Milstein, an aide to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, was running cover for the Israeli government, suppressing reports critical of Israeli actions, The…

Will Donald Trump’s Corruption Matter in November?

On The Political Scene Podcast: The President’s self-dealing has been well documented. Do voters care—and will anyone ever pay?

Trump’s “Camp Donald” grift is designed to outlast his presidency

Trump's plan to turn his Florida golf club into an official presidential retreat — and reap the benefits

Kimberly Guilfoyle’s Corruption Scandal Was Too Sloppy for the Trump Administration

U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned amid pressure from the White House and reports of financial corruption while in office.

Majority in US say Trump prioritises personal wealth over all else: Poll

A majority of US adults say President Trump and his family have inappropriately profited from presidency.

US ambassador to Greece resigns amid misconduct allegations

Kimberly Guilfoyle denies allegations that she offered access to Trump administration officials in exchange for money.

Kimberly Guilfoyle Resigns Amid Ethics Misconduct Allegations; Trump Says “We Didn’t Like What We Were Reading”

Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former Fox News host who became a high-profile figure in Donald Trump’s orbit, resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece following a bombshell Wall Street Journal report over alleged ethical misconduct. Guilfoyle confirmed her exit in a po…