The Deepening Swamp
D. S. Mitchell
Diggin’ For Dirt
As a political junkie, my ears perked up when I heard the White House Visitor Log will no longer be publicly available. Journalists and nosy neighbor’s are similar in some respects. We want to know what’s going on. It just drives us bird dogs, tail chasing crazy when there are secrets. It makes no sense to me. Why would an administration that is already embroiled in multiple scandals, on multiple fronts, decide to hide the visitor log information?
It Is Obvious
The answer is obvious. The White House does not want the public to know which corporate executives, lobbyists and other people of interest visit the West Wing of the White House. The more the President and his associates try to run a secret government, the more we will investigate. Us nasty, disgusting, journalists will dig around to uncover “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why” and “how”. And, that process all starts with the basic, “why”?
Lobbying Changes
The White House isn’t just closing access to visitor logs. Trump silently by Executive Order, eliminated provisions to ethics regulations. Those restrictions had prohibited lobbyists from joining government agencies that they lobbied within the last two years. This new relaxation of regulations affects 4,000 executive branch hires. This has made it easier for former lobbyists to get the necessary government waivers. They can now “take up matters that could benefit former clients,” said Danielle Brian Executive Director for Project on Government Oversight.
Going Against Integrity
In exclusive comments to ProPolitica Ms Brian stated, “The sheer number of potential conflicts-which will need recusals, necessitate waivers, or result in violations of the ethics rule-is disturbing, particularly given the secretive approach the administration is taking on the particular issue.” Bain continued, saying, “Our worst fears are coming true. We know people are coming in who have conflicts.” Her last thoughts, “This will serve no one well. Even if rules are enforced, so many senior officials will be required to recuse themselves they will have a hard time getting their job done.”
Ethics Be Damned
W. M. Shaub, Jr. Director of Office of Government Ethics admits,”There is no transparency. I have no idea how many waivers have been issued. Waivers are now a political decision, not an ethical one.” Donald Trump has filled the White House staff and the federal agencies with an unprecedented number of former lobbyists, lawyers, and consultants. “In many cases these lobbyists and consultants are helping to craft new policies for the same industries in which they recently earned a paycheck,” reported the NY Times.
A Short List
A short list of people with possible conflicts of interest that are now serving in the Trump Administration:
1.) Michael Catanzaro:
An energy advisor who just last year was working as a lobbyist for oil and gas interests in Oklahoma, and coal-burning electric utilities in Pennsylvania. So, a year later, he is handling the same matters on behalf of the federal government.
2.) Rick Perry:
Former governor of Texas who prior to his appointment as Secretary of Energy, famously declared he would “eliminate the Energy Department”. Now he is running the Energy Department for Trump.
3.) Scott Pruitt:
Former Ok AG vigorously fought the EPA, while in Oklahoma. Pruitt filed 14 lawsuits on behalf of the gas and oil industry. His appointment to head the EPA looks as if his mission is to dismantle the agency.
4.) Chad Wolf:
Lobbied for years for a particular “carry on luggage screening device”. Wolf is now the Chief of Staff for the Secretary of Transportation. The device he lobbied for, is now being tested for potential purchase by the agency.
5.) Lance Leggitt:
Chief of Staff to Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Tom Price. Leggitt worked for 10 separate health care companies prior to this appointment. Medicare billing rules, and rules for health care supplier accreditation was his focus. Now he is deciding the very issues he once lobbied.
6.) J.D. Gribben:
Is an infrastructure specialist. Prior to coming to government Gribben had lobbied for Macquarie, a bank that specializes in infrastructure financing deals. Macquarie is sure to benefit from any deals that affect construction finance.
7.) Shahira Knight:
Is Special Assistant to the President, advising on tax and retirement policy. Knight was a lobbyist for Fidelity, one of the nation’s largest fund managers and provider of retirement products.
8.) Dr. Scott Gottlieb:
As nominee to lead the FDA. He took $350,000 in 2014 and 2015 from over a dozen pharmaceutical companies. Gottlieb never registered as a lobbyist, but rather served as a director of 8 pharmaceutical companies and 1 laboratory. Gottlieb stated in a letter to Congress, “I will recuse as necessary.”
Just A Few
The White House has only released background information on about half of its 180 current senior political employees. As of this writing, Trump has more than 40 former lobbyists working in the White House and the broader government. Trump’s appointees are notably wealthier. Their financial dealings more complex, and their financial holdings more extensive. Consequently, their private sector associations more complicated than any in history. Conflicts related to investments, or former clients, are of recurring concern.
ProPublica
ProPublica, is a nonprofit newsroom based in NYC. Its aim is to produce investigative journalism in the public interest. They are reporting that the potential conflicts uncovered through lobbying records, financial disclosures, interviews are extensive and pervasive. The secrecy of the Trump Administration activities are drawing increased attention, and condemnation from ethics watchdog groups. Calamity News and Politics, will continue writing on this story and I will give updates as they become available. Ethics are evidently not a prerequisite to join the Trump cavalcade of corruption.
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