The article discusses how former lobbyists who now hold key positions in the Trump administration, such as Attorney General Pam Bondi, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, are leveraging their previous connections to benefit their clients through increased lobbying activities, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and the influence of lobbying on government decisions.
Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has purchased over $103 million in corporate and municipal bonds, including investments in major banks and corporations, raising questions about the implications of his active trading and potential conflicts of interest, though officials claim these transactions are managed independently of him.
Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's interest in acquiring TikTok and leading a $1 billion investment in a struggling New York bank aligns with his background in finance, media, and turning around troubled institutions. However, his dealmaking raises concerns about ethics, as critics worry about potential conflicts of interest. Mnuchin's career has been marked by controversial moves, including his involvement with OneWest Bank's foreclosure practices and his post-government business dealings with government-controlled investment funds in the Middle East. Despite criticism, Mnuchin continues to explore opportunities in distressed banking and potential investments, leveraging his experience and access to capital.
After 100 days in office, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's progress on government ethics and transparency promises has been evaluated by the Better Government Association (BGA). While it is still early to determine the full extent of his administration's responsiveness to FOIA requests, there have been no binding opinions against the city related to FOIA denials. However, no legislation has been introduced to give the Inspector General independent release authority, and significant incident reports from prior administrations have not been released. The Johnson administration has an opportunity to implement recommendations from oversight agencies, but there have been instances where recommendations were declined. It is too early to evaluate the administration's commitment to an open and uniform appointment process for filling aldermanic vacancies. The mayor's commitment to budget transparency will be tested when the budget is presented in October. Despite promising to make legislation publicly available in advance, direct introductions into committee have occurred without public posting. The requirement for sister agency heads to appear before City Council committees has not been tested yet. The relationship between the City Council and the mayor's office has shown signs of negotiation and collaboration in committee appointments.
House Democrats released a report detailing how the Trump White House failed to follow the law in handling gifts, including failing to report gifts from foreign governments and failing to properly document over 100 gifts valued at over $250,000. The report includes previously undisclosed White House emails and documents that raise still-unanswered questions about the whereabouts of certain gifts. The investigation was prompted by disclosures about how the Trump White House mishandled gifts by The New York Times and the State Department. The report also raises issues involving a domestic gift and whether Mr. Trump broke the law when he kept a computer given to him by Apple’s chief executive, Tim Cook.
