Updated: GSA official who cleared Trump’s DC hotel called potential conflicts of interest “nonsense”
Critics say it shows the GSA didn't take the ethical concerns about the lease seriously
July 03, 2017 12:47PM
[...]
Ethics experts still argue the president’s company is overseeing a contract that financially benefits Trump while in office, even if he doesn’t get any of that money until he leaves office.
However, emails obtained by Bloomberg show that days after Trump’s election win, Terry forwarded a BuzzFeed article referring to the potential conflict of interest to the Trump Organization. In the email he wrote “FYI – A fair amount of nonsense.”
It's obvious why Terry did not qualify his approval, because he himself saw the president as not gaining any benefit. A position which surely is nonsense in itself.
"The inspector general’s report cited “serious shortcomings” in the General Services Administration’s decision-making, noting that the “G.S.A. has an obligation to uphold and enforce the Constitution.” It was the lawyers’ job to consider whether Mr. Trump’s rise to the White House resulted in a breach of the lease, the report said."
Trump gets a benefit. It's gotta be seen as a violation of the constitution. Surely. Where is there any doubt?
The IG's report also looks to put the decision to keep the Clock Tower staffed during the shutdown into question.
Subpoenas Coming Soon In Trump Emoluments Lawsuit [...] U.S. District Court Judge Peter J. Messitte gave the order for discovery in the case to proceed to D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine and Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, who have accused Trump of illegally profiting off the presidency. The list of subpoena targets will be released on Tuesday. https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=145240568
Watchdog says administration officials made misleading statements on FBI headquarters [...] The report by the GSA's inspector general (IG) found that top members of the agency might have misled Congress over the amount of influence the White House yielded over their decision to keep the FBI headquarters on Pennsylvania Avenue. https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=143215150
Watchdog report finds former VA secretary violated ethics rules with security us
"Agency Ignored Constitutional Questions About Trump Hotel Lease, Report Finds"
Yet another IG report is critical of Trump administration official.
By Gregory Wallace, CNN Updated 2100 GMT (0500 HKT) January 17, 2019
Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin (L) testifies before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee September 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony on the topic of "Be There: What more can be done to prevent veteran suicide?" (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
(CNN) -- An inspector general report faulted former Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin with violating ethical rules by allowing security agents to drive his wife around, and also found larger long-standing ethical and management flaws in the department's security program.
The report concluded Shulkin "violated ethical regulations by permitting his VA employee driver to use a personal vehicle and personal time to provide transportation services to the Secretary's wife."
The inspector general cleared Shulkin of allegations he had abused his authority by having agents protect him when not on government business, because he relied on advice from department staffers and "no one raised any concern that his use was inappropriate."
[...]
Shulkin was ousted from VA last March amid a power struggle and the inspector general's findings of serious ethical issues involving a European trip. Shulkin and another top department official had taken their spouses on the trip, which involved a large amount of sightseeing and free Wimbledon tickets, and his chief of staff misled investigators.
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