5 questions journalists need to answer covering Trump:
Can what appears to have happened be confirmed?
If so, was it unprecedented?
Is this recent act of governance normal by the usual standards?
Is what happened a threat to transparency — or democracy?
politico.com/magazine/story…
Can what appears to have happened be confirmed?
If so, was it unprecedented?
Is this recent act of governance normal by the usual standards?
Is what happened a threat to transparency — or democracy?
politico.com/magazine/story…
1) Yes, @SecretService is paying rates as high $650/night for rooms at @Trump properties:
washingtonpost.com/politics/secre…
How does we know? Not the @WhiteHouse or @USASpending or @Trump. The @WashingtonPost obtained records of payments under the FOIA. Receipts:
washingtonpost.com/politics/secre…
How does we know? Not the @WhiteHouse or @USASpending or @Trump. The @WashingtonPost obtained records of payments under the FOIA. Receipts:
2) Yes, @realDonaldTrump‘s business relationship with the US government is unprecedented for a @POTUS in American history.
Past presidents allowed the @SecretService to stay at their properties for free.
The Post found @VP44 had charged rent, & that that spending was disclosed.
Past presidents allowed the @SecretService to stay at their properties for free.
The Post found @VP44 had charged rent, & that that spending was disclosed.
3) The governance here is appalling: Secrecy hid emolumental corruption.
After Trump broke his promise to disclose his taxes, @USTreasury illegally blocked Congress from obtaining them. The @SecretService did not disclose spending at @USASpending & wouldn’t tell the Post why.
After Trump broke his promise to disclose his taxes, @USTreasury illegally blocked Congress from obtaining them. The @SecretService did not disclose spending at @USASpending & wouldn’t tell the Post why.
4) Yes, this is a threat to transparency. On the one hand, @WashingtonPost (+@PropOTP!) were able to use FOIA & repor.
But the @SecretService is required to tell Congress what it spends at @Trump. It isn’t, & has left out key properties, & isn’t telling the public @usaspending.
But the @SecretService is required to tell Congress what it spends at @Trump. It isn’t, & has left out key properties, & isn’t telling the public @usaspending.
The state of #pressfreedom & #opengov remains strong enough for @Fahrenthold @OConnellPostbiz @jdawsey1 @CarolLeonnig to report this story in the @WashingtonPost, informing us of how @realDonaldTrump is paying himself with our tax dollars despite his attempts to keep it secret
5) This is a threat to democracy. Trump’s decision not to disclose taxes & divest — & the @GOP accepting secrecy & corruption, @TheJusticeDept’s subsequent defense of both, & @SpeakerRyan @SpeakerPelosi not impeaching him over emoluments — shifted Overton window for future @potus
6) The remedy for these threats is the same as it was in February 2017 sunlightfoundation.com/2017/02/02/wha…
@OversightDems @GOPoversight should conduct oversight of agency compliance with transparency laws, from FOIA to FACA to DATA Act, & investigate all government interactions with @Trump
@OversightDems @GOPoversight should conduct oversight of agency compliance with transparency laws, from FOIA to FACA to DATA Act, & investigate all government interactions with @Trump
@OversightDems @GOPoversight @Trump 7) If you've followed & read me since 2016, you know this isn't new. I wrote to Congress, advocated for divestment, & made an database of Trump's conflicts sunlightfoundation.com/2017/09/24/tur… His secrecy & lack of divestment, + a complicit @GOP, has predictably led to emolumental corruption
@OversightDems @GOPoversight @Trump @GOP 8) Congressional investigators could leverage @CREWcrew amazing work tracking Trump's conflicts of interest: citizensforethics.org/2000-trump-con… subpoena records from @Trump & @USTreasury, call execs & officials in oversight hearings, & publish data of all known emoluments POTUS has received
