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TRUMP – CORRUPTION

Corruption Wikipedia defines it as a form of dishonesty or criminal offense undertaken by a person or organization entrusted with a position of authority, to acquire illicit benefit or abuse power for one’s private gain. Corruption may include many activities including bribery and embezzlement, though it may also involve practices that are legal in many countries. Political corruption occurs when an office-holder or other governmental employee acts in an official capacity for personal gain. Corruption is most commonplace in kleptocracies, oligarchies, narco-states and mafia states.

Corruption can occur on different scales, corruption ranges from small favors between a small number of people (petty corruption), to corruption that affects the government on a large scale (grand corruption), and corruption that is so prevalent that it is part of the everyday structure of society, including corruption as one of the symptoms of organized crime. Corruption and crime are endemic sociological occurrences which appear with regular frequency in virtually all countries on a global scale in varying degree and proportion.

The article in the Sunday NYTimes Editorial board opinion section had essays that focused on the rampant corruption, calibrations of violence, gross negligence with the public’s health, and incompetent stagecraft.  There are also images that highlights Climate change, race, woman’s rights, and immigration.  Today’s theme is concentrating on corruption.

Trump’s Unapologetic Corruption is the title of the first opinion article by Michelle Cottle.  Just call it the Trump Swamp she writes.  Her opinion is an attempt to understand the corruption which she says emanates from the lurid heart of the Washington’s Romanesque-revival hotel  known as the Trump International.  The 19^th century former post office converted into luxury rooms. 

The once proud structure is now a both a monument and a tool for self-dealing and the advancement of corruption which has defined the president and the Trump family.  Day and night the throngs of lobbyists, lawmakers, foreign agents, and favor seekers are schmoozing with administration big wigs.  Occasionally the president will appear with the sycophants willing to spend lots of cash.  The rituals are not for the overpriced meals and drinks, but high rollers hobnobbing. 

The grifting is not confined to the Trump International it spills over to Florida- Mar-a-Lago, Florida, Scotland, and New jersey  where the properties are raking in tens of  millions of dollars from those seeking favors, or expressing appreciation.  “An investigation by the Times found 200 companies , special interest groups, and foreign governments that patronized Mr. Trump’s properties while reaping benefits from him and his administration” the paper said.

Some of the more egregious self-enrichment projects have not made any traction.  The G-7 at Doral, his golf resort near Miami was scuttled after the blowback from even his own party.  Every time a family member, Donald or certain administration officials visit a Trump property the secret service is obligated to be near-by and thus rents from his organization.  The estimated cost of the hotels in only two of his properties is over 1 million dollars in Bedminster and Mar-a-Lago.

Taxpayers are also paying for his kids business trip security details.  A trip to Uruguay cost the taxpayer paid $98,000 for Eric Trump’s visit to a Trump condo project.  3 other trips by the kids cost an additional $250,000 to Dubai and the Dominican Republic.  These costs include airfare, ground transportation and lodging.

Jared and Ivanka have also been using influence.  In May 2017 Mr. Kushner’s sister pitched a real estate development to Chinese Investors and played up her brothers senior position as advisor and pitched to them a program that would fast track visas to wealthy foreign investors.

In politics the fish rots from the head.  Many members of the administration have turned their heads and closed their eyes and muffled their ears which seems to be tacit approval of the family’s ethical flexibility.  The list of ethical missteps of former Trump officials is long.  Among the self-dealing or those that misused taxpayer money includes: the Secretary of the Interior, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.    Wilbur Ross, for some reason remains while there are multiple reports of sketchy financial dealings. 

Brad Parscale the former campaign manager was involved in the allegations of campaign finance violations for funneling monies to companies he ran.  There is also the scrutiny of the salaries for the Trump family members.  Forget draining the swamp Trump is charging admission.