Category: Ethics

The long reach of the Koch bothers into American conservative/libertarian politics now reaches to the Trump administration.  They have been actively involved in exerting influence on politicians for years. Their primary goals are to strip regulation on business and reduce tax responsibilities on the wealthiest of Americans.

They must certainly be pleased with “brother” Trump.

The Intercept – IF THE BILLIONAIRE Koch brothers turn to the White House for favors, they will see many familiar faces.

Newly disclosed ethics forms reveal that a significant number of senior Trump staffers were previously employed by the sprawling network of hard-right and libertarian advocacy groups financed and controlled by Charles and David Koch, the conservative duo hyper-focused on entrenching Republican power, eliminating taxes, and slashing environmental and labor regulations.

Some of the relationships were well-known. Marc Short, for instance, now Trump’s chief liaison to Congress, previously led Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, the dark money nonprofit used by the Koch brothers and their donor cohort to dispense money to allied groups. Freedom Partners, which maintains an affiliate Super PAC, was at the center of the Kochs’ $750 million election effort during the campaign last year.

But the ethics forms, made available to the public on Friday evening, reveal a number of previously undisclosed financial ties between the Koch network and Trump’s inner circle of political aides.

Donald McGahn, Trump’s campaign attorney turned White House counsel, provided legal services to a range of outside Koch groups working to influence the election. McGahn, through the law firm Jones Day, advised Freedom Partners, as well as i360, the Koch’s big data firm set up to identify and target voters, and Americans for Prosperity, the election advocacy and grassroots lobbying organization run by the Koch brothers. Ann Donaldson, McGahn’s chief of staff, came to the White House from McGahn’s law firm. Her financial disclosure shows that she also provided legal services to Freedom Partners and i360.

Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s former campaign manager turned close White House advisor, consulted over the last year for Americans for Prosperity’s national foundation, as well as for the Michigan and Ohio chapters of the group. Conway served as a board member for the Independent Women’s Forum, a Koch-backed group whose goal is “increasing the number of women who value free markets and personal liberty.”

Article conrinues BELOW THE FOLD.

Rep. Trey Gowdy, another Trump surrogate, has jumped up and on board in support of Chairman Devin Nunes’ refusal to name his sources.  Sources he claims informed him the Obama administration spied on Trump’s campaign. Allegations for which no credible evidence has yet surfaced.

New Jersey’s Republican Governor Christie has casts doubts on the credibility of the allegations. Christie told Tucker Carlson on FOX News recently there seems to be no evidence of spying by the prior administration.

“There certainly doesn’t seem to be any evidence of that at this point.”

“I know from having spent seven years as a U.S. attorney that the FISA court and the way that works and foreign intelligence surveillance activities – it is very, very difficult to get that type of activity going. You have to go and convince an independent judge.”

“So I don’t see any evidence of that at this point in time. We’ll continue to listen, but I can tell you from my experience that kind of stuff is very difficult to get.” {edited for brevity}

Given Trump’s demonstrated propensity for lying whenever he deems it serves his agenda the greater likelihood is that Trump’s allegations are false and his surrogates know it.

For Trump and the present Republican party it is not about truth, America, or the best interests of the American people. It’s all about party loyalty and their reactionary agenda. One that heavily favors and benefits the very wealthy while it screws middle America.

This is nothing but a distraction from important issues facing the American people. Trump hopes that while he distracts the American people with BS they won’t be paying attention to his disastrous plan to dismantle our federal government and send it back to, well, you complete the sentence.