To be President of the United States and to continue private business. Are there no rules? Does Trump think he is God and everything is allowed to him?
Wen will this egocentric and dumb man be blown out of the White House? Do the people of the United States not realize how much damage this fool is doing to their country? People here in Europe are only laughing about the new scenery. It's really ridiculous.
6
Does anyone realize that America is, now, corrupted to the core? Massive Republican, often completely illegal, voter suppression; a Supreme Court that is, now, simply a wholly owned subsidiary of the Republican Party (At least 3 will automatically vote the Republican side of anything--that's why they are there), and an Administration which corrupts everything it touches. Thanks to Evangelical "Christians" even God has become a Republican, blind to all of that stuff He is said to have taught in the Bible. Really one can't even say "God Help Us," since He, too, is in favor of this corruption.
4
Mr. Trump's refusal to put his holdings in a true blind trust set us up for these types of conflicts. There is no question that his first concern is his own pocketbook. I hope the Dems win their lawsuits.
That will take time, however. Meanwhile, Congress must do its job in reining in Trump. I'm hoping the midterms will give Dems enough of an edge in the House to do so, even if they don't win the Senate.
1
In my career, I have met many urban developers. They are, almost to a person, unconcerned with laws involving affordable housing, handicapped accessibility. environmental protection and zoning regulations.
They wheedle, cajole and lobby to get around the law and ask for myriad zoning waivers. They inflate the size of their property's tax revenues for cities, and build cheap, law-avoidant properies to maximize their revenue.
Cities frequently must bail them out when occupancy and tenant rates do not meet their promises. Their goal is money and profit, at any cost.
Much like the U.S. president.
Concern about competition from the FBI redevelopment project was normal when private citizen Trump was initially faced with it.
Now he is President. He has refused to put his holdings in blind trusts and violates the Constitution's emoluments clause. His allies are world dictators, tax dodgers, money launderers, the morally bankrupt.
He is under investigation for Russian assistance in his election, and constantly criticizes and fires members of the DOJ and the FBI. It would clearly benefit him and his "new allies" to know FBI investigation strategies at all times, so they could work around them and continue their criminal behavior.
Trump ignores U.S. law. Letting this thug build the FBI's headquarters, replete with hidden spycams and microphones for his and his "friends'" personal use, negating any security, would aid and support their criminal activities.
3
With all of Trump's attacks on the FBI, and the alleged interest Russia has in keeping Trump in power, plus Trump's other allies--paedophiles, sex offenders, tax cheats, MBS and Saudi Arabia's leaders, Kim Jong Un, Duterte--it would not be acceptable to have him, or his companies, held directly or indirectly, be involved in any way with the design and construction of a new FBI headquarters.
Not only is there a conflict of interest financially, and another instance of Trump using his office to create personal wealth.
There is the idea of spy cams and microphones being imbedded in the facility, if Trump were to build it, so that he and enemies of the U.S., as well as U.S. lawbreakers who are friends of Trump's, would be privey to all confidential, supposedly secured conversations and strategies held in that building. They would have a "leg up", with this knowledge, on how best to continue their illegal activities undetected.
With a current President who is more Mafia don than public servant, it's in the U.S.'s, DOJ's and national security's best interests to keep Trump and all of his companies, shell companies and "friends" far away from any government-related work.
1
How could you trust Trump near the FBI building? You have to wonder why he is interested? Thinking how buildings in Russia that have security agencies being build with spy cameras inside. Did Putin give him an assignment?
This new plan will cost us, the taxpayers, a couple of hundred thousand dollars more than the original and will result in a building that is still too small to meet the needs of the FBI. The only "good" thing about the change, the only reason for the change, is that it will put money in the pocket of the current POTUS. Trump has broken the law in insisting on this change and he should be punished for it.
Next best thing if one cannot eliminate competition is to keep it far away. When you are president and have the chance to keep prize real estate off the market next your your cash cow, so much the better. Trump loses any benefit of the doubt when it comes to assessing whether or not he will personally profit from a presidential decision.
2
The real problem here is the ignorance of the American voters. They seem to think that like a Pope once you are in that office you acquire some magical intellectual skill that puts you above all of the rest of us. I do not think the majority of voters will ever learn as history has proven this!
David I think his base is in the darkness with him. He's their messiah. But these unending whiffs of stench in the nostrils of ordinary folk are adding up to a big blowout.
Voting in 18 days
The truly amazing aspect of all of this is that the American Public just doesn't care! No level of POTUS corruption will alter the blind worship of his adherents. No idiotic statement will convince them that there is a clown in the White House. He can destroy the environment, the nation, concepts of racial equality, LGBTQ rights, the economy and plunder the poor for the benefit of the wealthy and they just don't care! As long as he continues his racist, sexist and homophobic rants, they will accept anything else. The inmates are running the asylum.
4
Perhaps he wants to have it "wired" to make it easier for his friend putin to "listen in".
3
WAit til the dems get the house and start looking at this crooked family who have turned the WHITE hOUSE into a horror house advocating abuse of journalists as enemies of the people. Greedy Trump wants to cash in on being president up to including any real estate deals he can control. This family is costing the tax payers a fortune traveling to resorts and the family biz family members flying around the world conducting family biz. Jared getting loans from overseas lenders Ivanka cashing in on being in govt and first daughter ! They are a family of greedy lying tax cheats draft dodgers and fraudsters thinking of the USA as one of their hotels they acquired getting all they can before exposed for who they are.
2
The GOP led Senate isn't allowing an investigation into this. Trey Gowdy is refusing to issue subpoenas. Republicans are acting like criminal defense attorneys for Trump.
Doesn't anyone see what's going on here? Republicans are acting with impunity on everything as if they will never have to answer for any of this behavior. They are acting like their behavior won't get them voted out of office on November 6th.
Think about that for just a moment. Then ask yourself why would they behave like that, why would all the Republicans in Congress behave in such a corrupt manner knowing it will result in defeat come November?
They would only behave like this if they knew they were going to win. But that isn't likely according to the polls right?
We already know the Russians are in our election systems. In fact some of our election systems had their their whole servers facing public allowing anyone with an internet connection to view the software, databases and votes. The Republicans even voted down a Democratic effort to increase election security earlier this year. Why?
It is very clear from the polls that the House will flip in November. But when it doesn't, and everyone is scratching their heads wondering how we all got it so wrong - remember that the Russians are in our election systems. Trump most certainly conspired with them in 2016 and at this point there are probably corrupt officials on the inside to make sure the GOP stays in power.
- CONTINUED BELOW -
2
Naturally the head of the Trump Crime Family wants to protect his hotel investment. If this doesn’t violate a ton of federal laws and the Emoluments Clause, then all is lost. Watch for him to hold a yard sale at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, unload all the historical artifacts, art and furnishings, and pocket the money. Chances are, as usual, no one will care and he’ll get away with it. Disgusting.
Ask the FBI if they said that they wanted to keep their old building. If they say “no”, then Trump and/or his cohort(s) are guilty of perjury at the very least. Perhaps more.
Trump being Trump just what the voters ordered, well sort of. He did lose the popular vote.
1
- CONTINUED FROM ABOVE -
Our new electronic voting machines are made by 3 companies, nationwide. And they are all owned and run by, you guessed it, Republicans.
None of these machines can create a paper audit trail. Interesting huh?
As soon as the midterms are over and the house and senate are even more red, Trump will shut down the Muller investigation, cripple the DOJ and the ensuing legal battle will end up at the SCOTUS (if we are lucky).
Guess who will be the deciding vote on the extent of executive presidential powers? Guess who will be the deciding vote on the president's financial conflicts of interest? Guess who will be the deciding vote on if a president can be indicted - never mind being investigated?
If someone in power doesn't do something soon, or have a contingency plan for what is about to happen god help us all.
1
He probably wants to bankrupt the FBI, like he does with all his other projects. See Adam Davidson's piece in The New Yorker yesterday.
1
Can you imagine if any other President was this deep in graft and corruption ?
The current occupant of the White House is a blatant criminal.
The Republican Party at this point are all co-conspirators.
3
Can you imagine these obvious these constant conflicts of interest if Obama were in office?
1
Another example of connecting the dots to Donald J. Trump who continues to use the office of the president as an insider's tool to lay the groundwork for his future business prospects. From time to time, Trump makes an effort to give the impression he gives a hoot about being the president of the United States.
It’s not Trump’s hotel, it is a government property that Trump’s company leases.
Once a real estate developer, always a real estate developer. Especially when developer gets big financial head start from Dad and knows best bankruptcy lawyers. He wins, we lose: amazing deal.
1
What's with all the hand-wringing and editorializing? We (collectively) used to have a feel for 'plain-speaking' and 'square-deals'. Now we twist ourselves up in knots trying to articulate what we refuse to see or hear every day:
Donald Trump, his family and appointees, care but for a single goal; lining their own pockets with the spoils of power. That single pursuit explains, in words and deeds, their motivations at the administration of the Nation's institutions.
Shame on the supposed and proclaimed patriots, journalists, pundits and electorate who stand by idely, as if at a car wreck, while the occupants slowly bleed out.
2
Look for the new FBI to be gilded and ornate. Because what is important is no longer the needs of the FBI staff, but rather "improving" the view for Trump Hotel patrons.
In any other country, a politician caught using their position to amend policy in order to enrich themself would resign...
1
So that is what Trump has against the FBI. It isn't their investigations into his collusion with the Russians or his business dealings at all. It's their ugly building that lowers local property values. It's all starting to make sense now.
Where will the FBI be housed between the time their current home is leveled and a new one (several years) built?
Since when does the POTUS get involved in such bureaucratic procedures as finding a place to build a gov't office building?
Remember when high-office holders avoided even the impression of a conflict of interest, and Congress held them accountable when they didn't?
3
It's incredible how often President Trump is involved in obscure businesses outside the White House may it be hotels, golf courses,or other businesses conducted by his multiple lawyers. No wonder many of his aides stated that he is unable to follow a complex discussion or reports on complex matters such as the ones stated by Mr. Mattis, the highest military aid in the actual Trump government. One cannot serve two masters at once, either he will neglect one or will fail both. President Trump's successes and failings are aisy to see for most Americans. However, most government's officials seems to eat in his hand and enable him to go on business as usual in the outside world of finance where he navigates on the border of criminality too often to be an accident.
1
Obviously he wants to use the reconstruction of the FBI building to permeate the new FBI building with his own personal bugging / surveillance systems as he did when he 'refurbished' the White House.
Can he force the FBI or collude with the Contractors who build the new FBI Building to accomplish this?
I don't see why not.
1
The POTUS getting involved in a relatively minor building project, especially when compared to the responsibility of maintaining the American Empire.
Hmmm, I wonder how many other Presidents considered that to be the best use of their time?
1
Putting the FBI headquarters in some DC suburb would probably be a disappointment to most who currently delight in seeing it amidst the numerous other government sights available for the tourist to see in an easy walk around the neighborhood. It's not out of the question the Trump shares this feeling. Also the idea that the prospective transition to a hotel as a threat to the Trump post office property in a city chock a block with hotels including that immediate area would seem dubious. Another instance of the President subject to harsh skepticism at every opportunity.
Trump has never touched anything that did not expand his pocket book. Continued ownership and control of the Trump National Hotel is unConstitutional according to the Emoluments Clause. Trump could care less and just ignores it, taking in cash every day.
THIS FBI project would have been a bonanza for the Crook-in-Chief had h been able to negotiate a site swap and violate the law exponentially more. Push back to protect his hotel followed, although keeping the FBI where it is, assuming that is ideal, benefits him with opaque but obvious plausible deniability.
Trump HATES the FBI. Why would he do anything to strengthen it, even physically? How can the agency work without a headquarters for several years and how can downtown DC function with the chaos? These questions need to be answered since I am paying for this!
2
"Democrats wonder if he is trying to protect his hotel." Why not just say, "What is he doing that we can criticize?", because, that's what you do. Of course he'll protect his hotel, the exact same thing you would do, the exact same thing I would do.
That would make sense. Except that for 4 years he is not supposed to be Donald Trump, CEO of Trump Organization. He was elected to be POTUS, with emphasis on OTUS. That’s what the emoluments clause in the Constitution was designed to prevent.
Remember the Constitution?
1
I almost feel sorry for DT in this case. Finally there is one matter he actually knows something about, so he digs in enthusiastically despite the glaring conflicts. I hope he rightfully gets burned for trying to cover it up.
1
Our nation has never been in greater danger. Greater than the Civil War. Greater than World War II.
As far as I can tell (which is less than you) the only things standing in the way of the United States of America collapsing like a rotten house full of mold and mildew on a sinkhole swamp are the Mueller investigation and the mid term elections.
Please vote. Please resist as best you can within the rule of law. We won't win by being worse than Trump and Pence (who is worse than Trump).
1
I don’t think Donald Trump knows or cares that he is not supposed to use his position as President for financial gain. The current GOP led Congress has shown that they will do absolutely nothing about whatever Trump does.
No, this is not possible. Trump gave everything to a blind trust, so that he can run the country.
Said no one ever.
Perhaps Mr. Cohen can shed some light on why this President* is the only one since Thomas Jefferson to be involved in the placement of buildings in the Capitol of the nation. Perhaps the Office of the Architect of the Capitol could be consulted as well?
3
He most likely wants to turn it into a co-op or timeshare...
He doesn't have anything better to think about than a business opportunity for himself? This should not even be on his radar.
Since when does POTUS concern himself with the acquisition of office space for government agencies? Is there a history of others doing this? This micromanaging shows Trump’s inability to delegate these responsibilities where they belong so that he may address more pressing foreign policy emergencies. Will he be shopping for folders, pencils and stationary at Staples next with his “Rewards” card? The man has never find and hold a job where he was expected to keep regular hours or conduct himself according to standard business practices. I’m pretty sure this is the kind of thing they’d mention at the Wharton School of Business. He’s never had to answer to a boss like everyone else does so it’s no surprise that he “manages,” his administration like a berserk octopus. And the fact that he is a multimillionaire real estate “developer” doesn’t mean he built the business or earned the millions himself—it was handed to him by his father. His instability, immaturity and his bullying management style is bad for American business, the US economy and creates a really bad impression on the governments of other countries. That’s why they play him so easily every chance they get.
24
@pugsley the fact you could make that statement at all that he isn't focusing on the things he should is just beyond ignorant. This President has achieved more in 2 yrs than almost any Pres in their entire 8 yr term. But the minute you notice where this story comes from and the mention of Dems involved sta it all. The emoliants clause is utterly ridiculous he has done exactly he's supposed to and if you think otherwise you have bought yet another lying hit piece that in the end will show he's done nothing wrong. So go loose your collective minds over a lie it's you in the end that will look like fools.
The GOP’s bargain with Trump allows him to move into America’s
most iconic building, dabble in the role of President when it suits him, sleep in, retire early, watch TV all the time, eat a lot of junk food, enjoy all expenses paid weekends away, every weekend, but mostly to expand the Trump Organization Real Estate empire while W-2 wage earners pick up the tab for generations to come.
The GOP side of the ‘Intelligence’ and ‘Judiciary’ committees have been a disgrace.
All of Trump’s appointees have been suspiciously underwhelming in their jobs. That performance in front of MBS! Pompeo was running the CIA, now he’s at the State Department as Trump’s second attempt to run it into the ground.
Something is very wrong. Someone or some thing is pulling the strings behind the GOP to make the US look stupid.
Never mind making America great,
how about just getting it back in
salvageable condition?
36
I'm surprised that in the 21st century, with everything we know about climate change, sustainable urbanism, and equitable transportation, that it would be considered a good idea to move a whole agency out to a transit-inaccesible suburban greenfield location next to a highway. I don't usually agree with Trump on much anything, but I have to admit that it makes sense to invest in our cities, renovate what we can, rebuild what is beyond repair, and make use of our existing infrastructure.
3
@Danny
The surrounding suburbs have public transit. The Metro system needs major work, but there are a number of federal agencies already located in suburban MD and VA. The Pentagon even has its own Metro station. And there’s adequate bus service in a number of areas, and regional rail (MARC and VA Transit) for employees living further away.
16
This is what "draining the swamp" looks like. The Clown is a crook, just like "Tricky Dick" was.
8
If the commercial development of the Hoover building was cancelled because the existing headquarters building couldn't be vacated until the new suburban campuses were completed, how is it that under Trump's plan, the Hoover building can now be immediately demolished for the development of a new headquarters?
It doesn't add up.
17
There is a For Sale sign on the White House door. Forget the rule of law, pay to play.
21
How many investigations of this president and his amateur crime family will be needed?
8
If only Russia were listening and interested in disclosing what ever Donald Trump is hiding from the American people in his personal and family income tax returns and business records then we would know what is going on here.
After all Trump took a solemn sworn oath to preserve, protect and defend the profits of The Trump Organization while occupying the Oval Office of our White House.
8
Seems like a great place for a casino!
4
There seems to be a re-incarnation of Boss Tweed in DC, he's called trump.
6
Trump does nothing without there somehow being an interest in it for him, personally. If he's interested in the FBI building, you can bet it's not because he "merely followed the wishes of the F.B.I." Not a chance.
11
Can the loathsome Moron-in-Chief become any more loathsome?
The world will be watching on November 6.
12
Just another TrumpScam. Sigh.
6
Drain the swamp - just don't let anyone build a competing hotel on the land afterward.
9
Either make a buck, or do the laziest thing possible. That is my new and permanent definition of Trump.
4
McConnell and Ryan ( who recently fired himself) will never defy Trump as long as they keep getting their conservative picks appointed to the federal bench. Trump is free to pursue his personal interests as long as he toes the mark.
8
If you're sick and tired of Trumpism, wear mostly black as often as possible until the election.
10
Thank you! Keep the spotlight bright and hot on the CURRENT president and please, please leave the obsessive and obsessive Clinton bashing in the past, where it belongs.
5
The scum and dirt that engulf the Oval Office keep piling up under Trump. And yet, 40%-45% of voters continue to profess approval of him. Ratings which are so out of step with reality can reflect a variety of disconnects in voters' minds. The most likely is that voters' actions bear little if any resemblance to candidates' actual track records, but display a striking correlation between whatever a candidate says at any given moment and what the voter wants to hear. Whether or not candidates' statements are internally consistent or bear any resemblance to truth appears to be an irrelevant factor.
What is so disappointing is that since the election of President Obama, the Democrats have shown promise as being the adults in the room. The Kavanaugh hearing travesty, coming on the heels of the Garland sham, seems to have broken their resolve in recent weeks. Rather than delivering a sharply focussed message which voters can relate to, several prominent Democratic leaders have urged resorting to the same tactics we long have deplored in Republicans.
The obvious choice presented to voters a month ago rapidly is vanishing. Left with two equally distasteful positions to choose from, the status quo likely will be the choice by default. It's a real shame that the Democrats, with victory so close at hand, have allowed a few leaders to cave into frustration and hand the Republicans the spoils they've baited the Democrats into giving them, continuing the recent Republican autocracy.
4
"Rather than delivering a sharply focussed message which voters can relate to, several prominent Democratic leaders have urged resorting to the same tactics we long have deplored in Republicans. "
It is clear that the voters, at least many of them, have no interest in sharply-focused messages. If Democrats are resorting to the same tactics as Republicans, it is because those tactics apparently work and the people who employ them suffer no consequences. Why do we forgive Republicans for acting like children but criticize Democrats for not being the "adults in the room?"
1
I know this is beside the point, but the notion that this building should be demolished is absurd. Renovating it should not be ruled out. We can't keep a building for 50 years? How pathetic! How wasteful! How ignorant! How American? Perhaps. Razing a functional building because Trump or anyone else thinks it's ugly simply has no merit. FBI could stay there and add space elsewhere if needed, or they could move out and it could be re-purposed. I bet the Smithsonian or the National Archives could use it. I observed the construction of this building, and I am not that old. If it needs maintenance, so be it. Failing to maintain it should not be used as a pretense for demolishing it. If it has indeed failed structurally, someone should be held accountable. I doubt that is true. Perhaps what is needed is an independent engineering assessment by a disinterested firm. The building belongs to the taxpayers. Developers and self-appointed arbiters of taste be damned.
11
@RFD
The FBI building has been criticized pretty much from the time it opened. Brutalism architecture is not a much-loved style, but the issues with this building also go to quality.
While there is a reason to keep the Director and such close to the White House, much of the operation could be located elsewhere. Personally, I think a lot of government operations should be moved to other locations in the country. The fingerprint database could operate as well. say, in New Mexico as on Pennsylvania Avenue and why shouldn't other parts of the country benefit from big Government?
Clearly a conflict of interest and another example of the Republican congress falling down on the job - it's congress's responsibility to make sure a president's business holdings don't affect public policy or funds. If only the president paid as much attention to governing as he does to enriching himself and his family.
10
Does anyone doubt that the President of the United States is doing all he can to enrich himself at the expense of the country and its citizens? What used to be a major scandal back in the days or Warren Harding is now at the bottom of the page, superceded by all the other scandals.
Which is exactly our President's plan--to overwhelm the press and the public with his transgressions until they become the new normal.
25
It’s already happened.
Debate about conflicts of interests?! Trump is a walking conflict. There's no debate.
21
I think the new Trump Bureau of Investigation [TBI] will make a fine edition to the D.C. lanscape, harmonizing beautifully with the Trump Hotel, the Trump Treasury Department and, of course,
The Trump Emoluments Memorial.
18
He runs the country like he did his casinos, except now the house money is the U.S. Treasury.
Guess he won't need daddy to buy up extra poker chips, the American people are footing his personal bill.
151
@Alan - Precisely. The United States Treasury is now serving as his bank. So convenient.
1
@Alan "He runs the country like he did his casinos....". Oh, too true! He runs up a trillion dollar deficit to fund his tax cut for his wealthy one percent cronies. Unfortunately, it will be our country, our social security, and our Medicare that go bust and there is no bankruptcy law to bail the country out!
1
Dennison can touch nothing without befouling it.
5
He's transforming the swamp ...by turning it into a cesspool.
17
Trump needs containment. The deafening silence of the GOP to do their duty is beginning to make me think does Trump has something on those people??? WTH.
I wouldn't put it past him to dig for dirt to exert control and insure their silence. He even hinted he had inside info about the indiscretions of Congress during the 2nd Kavanaugh hearing...He understands, thrives on, and loves parasitcal relationships, that is where he is most comfortable...
He himself said to Woodward, his definition of power is "Fear."
Voting in 19 days...
20
This whole presidency is all a conflict of interest, for everyone involved, including the president. In most cases, it's all about greed and "me first". They are not interested in the people or the country. Vote folks.
15
“The idea that the reason the president wanted the F.B.I. headquarters to remain in its current location is based on anything other than the recommendation of the F.B.I. is simply false,” said Lindsay Walters, a White House spokeswoman.
Unfortunately, any educated American...or just those with "street smarts" has by now learned not to believe any "White House spokeswoman", or any spokesman at all. In fact the larger the denial, the larger the probable truth to the claim is. Quite simply, Trump doesn't do anything that isn't in his financial interest, from supporting and signing a tax cut that benefited those most who needed it least, i.e., the very rich, to now doing his very best to downplay MBS's role in the murder of a Washington Post columnist. Since he was considered a social pariah in New York even before he became president, his standing has always been defined by personal enrichment, i.e., money...and that hasn't changed.
15
@publish I put more faith and trust in a baby's babbling than anything coming out of the mouth of a white house spokesperson.
They should all preface their statements with: "What I'm about to tell you is an outright, mind numbing, and intelligence insulting lie. And I need you to cooperate by swallowing and smiling, or just look cluless...ok, now the POTUS has..."
6
Lets go back to that Washington Trump hotel itself, a clear violation of the unambiguous words of the U.S. Constitution. The lease on that property should be null and void and the place shut down. Then decide where the FBI HQ should be.
17
let's be honest, if we remove trump and our feelings for him, does anyone really care if the new FBI hq is in a suburban location or exactly where it was. does it serve the public any differently no matter where it is. this is just a rabble rousing article to keep fueling the hate trump fire. and I am a moderate democrat and am becoming quote fed up with my party and fellow dems who can do nothing positive to work together and move forward but only know hate and obstruction. many dems have become exactly what they claim is unacceptable from others and exhibit a pattern of behavior they claim to abhor.
3
Wrong. It was determined that the building was not only deteriorating, but unsuitable for the FBI’s needs. It’s too small, so their headquarters are spread willy nilly throughout the city in leased offices. That is expensive and inefficient. It is also harder to protect because it is located on the street in a city. A new building large enough for current needs cannot be built in DC because of zoning limits on building height. The FBI contributed to the assessment and was on board with the new building...until this administration got involved.
12
@bored, @bored If you had a virus running through your body do you succumb or fight? I love the WP's motto "Democracy dies in darkness." Everything Trump does needs to be pulled into the light. The entire world knows he is corrupt to his core and are fed up - but he just doesn't/won't stop.
Trump has earned his stripes for the sick hate he gives.
But what obstruction are you referring to?
5
Another day, another Trump scandal. Sigh.
11
Yet another sign of blatant conflict-of-interest and unprecedented corruption brought to us by Trump and his family...
12
Republican hypocrisy knows no bounds. Just imagine if a Democratic president refused to relinquish business holdings that created conflicts of interest! This president continues to build his own personal wealth at taxpayer expense (how much has been spent for his travel to Mar-a-lago or any of his golf resorts?), and not a single Republican in Congress bats an eye. There are numerous examples that his and his family's business relationships are affecting Trump's foreign policy decisions (Russia, Saudia Arabia, etc.). When will we say "enough is enough!"? Why do we have to wait for Dems to take control of the Congress for something to be done about this?!
13
It's ALL about the Trump Brand. Period.
7
How about we spend as little money on this "project" as possible, after all we have a massive debt and deficit. How did past presidents allow this important building get into such bad repair? Another issue that they left for a real president to solve.
1
so the next president will clean up your mess alex?
2
@vulcanalex
Well, maybe if past Congresses had allocated sufficient funds, ITV would be in better condition. You get what you pay for.
Some practical questions that are not answered in the article... Where will the FBI be located during the demolition and construction? Is the site big enough? Does it allow for future expansion? The rest is just politics.
8
Who would trust someone with suspected ties to foreign actors,overtly hostile to US interests, to build a facility requiring the highest levels of security?
22
Every day we learn more about how he uses government only to serve himself and his wealth. This is precisely what the Founding Fathers feared.
27
Rebuilding the FBI Headquarters on it's current site opposite the trump hotel, rather than moving it to Maryland/Virginia area, will make it easier for trump's Russian handlers, to watch and listen from the comfort of their hotel suite across the street.
28
Never in my life will I understand the greed and immorality of the Trump and Kushner families. Massive net worth yet it’s never enough. I have no doubt that every decision, every move, made by any of the Trumps or Kushners is self-serving. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that Jared Kushner’s father went to jail for (in part) hiring a prostitute to seduce his sister’s husband. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that any politician would tie him/her self to the narcissistic president. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that the Jared and Ivanka nepotism - with NO political experience - continues. It goes on and on. We are living in the twilight zone.
38
this is worse than the twilight zone because this is reality.
3
Take J. Edgar Hoover's name off the building and all will be forgiven. Seriously.
5
@August West
RIGHT! The Donald J. Trump FBI HQ, emblazoned in huge gold letters. Maybe DC could even get representation in Congress if we changed the city’s name to Trump DC.
if you wanted to do an honest article you should have brought up the fact that james comey's brother peter had an important role in the proposed new headquarters outside of DC. this seems to me a more serious conflict of interest involving james comey who was director of the fbi at the time, his brother and also the clintons who are clients of the law firm where peter comey works. this law firm where comey's frere works as a non lawyer something or other big shot is tightly linked to the Democrat party. trump was right and ethical to nix to comey clinton democrat party boondoggle in maryland or virginia.
3
@ettore: Nonsense. Trump is in it for himself and himself alone. He hasn't an ethical bone in his body.
11
@ettore But that’s not why Trump fired Comey. He fired Comey to obstruct justice.
20
What “role” did Comey’s brother have in the process exactly?
12
It obvious that Trump either does not know or care about the proper and legal requirements of the office of the president and it's also obvious that this Republican Congress doesn't care either.
It can't be said enough that there must be a change this November or this country will not recover from this current administration for quite a long time.
24
This gives a whole new meaning to the term “obstruction of justice”—as in obstructing the construction of a Department of Justice building.
10
While I am not intimately familiar with this project in question, as a career GSA contracting officer I can attest to the following:
1. Ms Murphy is a career acquisition attorney and a VERY smart woman. She knows how to “answer” questions.
2. There is a reason Ms Murphy was specifically asked the pointed questions by Congress. Bit of advice: if the IG or Congress poses such detailed inquiries please respond truthfully not evasively- they already know the answers. Whoever mentioned POTUS in that email did not help her credibility.
3. Ultimately the prez could assert executive privilege but based on the facts as investigated any REASONABLE person can safely assume what was
said or the desired outcome during the meetings in question.
4. Developers spent millions over the past few years in support of this RFP. Suffice it to say GSA’s reputation is in taters with the developer community and the agency is not viewed as a honest broker.
While I won’t state my personal opinion or politics regarding the conclusion I can advise anyone reading the article to utilize critical thinking skills. The same training I was required to take upon joining the agency.
9
Donald objects to the brutalist architecture of the new building.
Anyone who would build the Trump World Tower or fill a room with gilt schmaltz chandeliers has no room to talk about art and architecture.
27
@Occupy Government It's the old building he's referring to, not the new one.
The buck stops here.In the Con Don's pocket.This man has tried to continually enrich himself all his life.That he would do so while in office is galling to say the least.He has no loyalty to anyone but himself and is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors, is hopelessly compromised by Russia,Saudi Arabia,China- you name it.What say you congress???
17
@susan mccall-as we have seen over and over, Congress says NOTHING...we need new and different people in Congress...obviously.
VOTE ! November 6th !!
Swamping the drain - again.
13
A new Building for the FBI as the deficit skyrockets. And what about that much touted and "promise not kept" infrastructure?
9
The spineless GOP refuses to hold this man accountable for his self-dealing and refuses to make the obvious necessary ethics investigations a priority. If he stacks SCOTUS and the Federal Courts with extreme conservatives they will let him do whatever he wants.
The solution is simple. Vote them out on Nov. 6. Even if it turns your stomach to vote blue.
Many teetering democracies were saved by brave citizens and majority party members willing to vote against their own interests and their own party to turn the tide away from authoritarian rule. (Belgium and Finland in the period between WWI and WWII.)
As recently as 2016 Austria was faced with an election runoff between an extreme right wing candidate who encouraged violence against immigrants and a left-leaning Green Party candidate. The conservative Center-Right party (OVP) supported their ideological rival, the Green Party candidate, rather than see an authoritarian with little regard for political institutions and norms and a highly xenophobic message win. They succeeded.
There is precedent in America as recently as 2016. Many Obama voters claimed they voted for Trump because they couldn't stomach another Clinton era, not necessarily because of any great ideological kinship with Trump.
If you cannot stomach this unchallenged unethical use of public office for personal financial enrichment, vote blue!
13
@Joanna Stasia NYC the GOP is not spineless, they are complicit...laughing all the way to the bank
5
Trump is the American definition of the term Kleptocrat
13
The FBI is part of the DOJ which is part of the executive branch of government which is currently headed by DJT who is POTUS. Why is it a problem Trump offers suggestions has to the re-location or not of the FBI HQ? Trump is the head man you know...or don't you know?
3
Isn’t it obvious that he is putting his business interests first ahead of his commitment to our country. But I guess that’s ok because he’s a businessman. Or, is he the President? I’m confused. I guess it’s on a case by case basis.
13
@Back Up Because civil servants are obligated to avoid participating in government activities where there may be a conflict between their personal interests, and the interests which the country has elected them to represent.
In this case, Trump has clear financial interests
at stake, as his family developed and manages the property across the street. These interests conflict with the government's interests in ensuring that federal agencies make sound financial decisions regarding these capital investments.
Finally - as indicated in the GSA emails referenced in this article, Trump provided "orders" - not "suggestions".
14
@Back Up
Something else to consider: the Hoover site land swap was a complex deal, worked on for years by many experts. What special knowledge does Trump bring to the table, an outsider through the project? Easy. Trump brings his personal business interest, the one thing never injected into the process.
Here's the question - why are Trump's personal business interests relevant? They are absolutely not relevant to the public interest. Trump places himself in direct conflict with the public interest by involving himself.
A competent "head man" keeps his private interests out of his public dealings. Trump fails.
2
Just watch, he’ll float renaming it from the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building to The Donald J. Trump Building in big gold letters and he won’t even say it’s him suggesting it. “Many people are saying!”
17
Business as usual. Trump business? American business? Hard to say as the two worlds seamlessly support each other.
4
In sum: VOTE November 6!
14
Trumps next book: The Art of the Steal, My Years in the White House.
28
This just in...
Trump Uses Presidency to Enhance DC Hotel Profit!!
Also: Sun Expected to Rise in East Tomorrow!
12
Are you suggesting that we should accept his as normal, Mr. Abbott?
Hope not.
7
@njglea -- Those who have lived in the Pacific Northwest, in the Vancouver - Seattle - Portland corridor, are so sweetly earnest. They forget irony. They forget sarcasm. They ask questions like yours.
@njglea:
i take mr. abbott to mean that if it is another day, it is another trump emolument.
What happened to politicians avoiding the appearance of conflict of interest?
My nest question is, how long will it take to rebuild the confidence in the office of the president after the current administration is over?
13
@Duckpuddle
Ask Senator McConnell. I'm sure he'll be able to answer.
10
Money, Money, Money, Money...
The Con Don and his International Mafia Robber Barons have been set loose to plunder OUR government of OUR United States of America and OUR hard-earned taxpayer dollars to try to further enrich himself. He thinks he's king midas.
He does NOT have a magic touch.
WE THE PEOPLE will show him that on November 6 and in every election in the foreseeable future. WE will turn him into an orange prison inmate or something equally fitting.
This will not stand in OUR United States of America. Not now. Not ever.
24
To his fans, which he calls “the American people”, this too is just Trump being smart. Ripping off the government is always a good thing to them. Never mind that the government IS us, the taxpayers. Trump picks their pockets, condemns them to lousy health care and dangerous abortions, pollutes their water and air, laughs at them, and they applaud. And the Republicans in Congress and state houses do the same. They think he’s flipping only liberals the bird!
22
Is anyone really surprised that our America would devolve into a greedy low life mess?
As a teenager in Ohio I was struck by the shallowness and obsession for money and how an individuals worth was judged by his financial accomplishments rather than human decency.
It is no surprise that we produce money obsessed Trumps and elect them to high office.
I wonder what it feels like to be proud of ones country?
12
So self-assured were the Dems of a Hillary Presidency that they delayed and delayed and delayed a decision on FBI re-location, not wishing to disappoint loyal constituents in Southern Maryland.
Of course, Springfield would have been selected given its proximity to the FBI National Training Academy at Quantico VA and to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency at Fort Belvoir in Springfield VA … to say nothing of Vice President Tim Kaine being a Virginian!
1
In the "Teapot Dome" crime Harding was not proven to be a conspirator. However, in the "Hoover Building" crime, Trump will most likely get caught. So Trump is not just a traitor, obstructor, tax evader, launderer, and misogynist, he's the complete package.
PROSECUTE RUSSIAGATE!
16
If we aren't careful Trump will want to tear down the White House. After, he did say it was ugly.
10
@wolf201 It would make a good spot for a golf course.
6
What?
Trump, using his office to personally benefit himself?
No.....oh, wait.....
11
What I found most interesting about this story was that Trump has chosen to become personally involved in this project, which any other president would consider unworthy of his involvement. What this has to do with running the country is beyond me. Forget about the conflict of interest for a minute. This is just one more instance of dereliction of duty on Trump's part, along with his golfing trips and television watching. Exactly how many minutes a day does he devote to governing?
49
@EMiller Perhaps because he has personal expertise in building or restoring buildings? I don't want a new building, use the old one and put up with whatever defects it has. We don't have money for this sort of thing.
1
@EMiller
Well said, lets include the time and money spent on his open mic Standup Comic Tent-Pole Rallies.
Maybe we should all be grateful that he does spend so little time doing ‘meaningful’ work!
If anything needs top priority for rebuilding, it is our infrastructure, not the FBI building. Highways and bridges need to be maintained and built, and high speed trains need to be created to connect areas where industry, both manufacturing, technical and service can gain access. Jobs would be created for those constructing the infrastructure and for areas where these businesses would move. The BMW factory, not located in a city or town, but off a major highway in South Carolina is a good example of this effect.
11
@Zoned High speed trains??? If some states want that they can pay for it themselves. The California boondoggle is a great reason not to get the federal government involved it that.
1
@vulcanalex Check out the success of high speed trains in Europe and Japan.I'd rather have a choice between a train and an airplane rather than the monopoly planes now have on long distance travel. The trains would be interstate and not intrastate and therefore federal.
In addition, It was Eisenhower who led the federal government in improving our infrastructure with a highway system and that brought a lot of our prosperity during and after that time. If you think California, a state is doing such a bad job, all the more reason it should be handled by the federal government.
One must think of far reaching implications rather than the determination to not pay taxes. One should worry more about how our government wastes money on golf trips and other perks.
1
How many listening devices will Trump install in the walls of the new FBI building?
24
It's business as usual for Trump, The country's administration can wait until the next president takes over.
23
The only way Trump and the Republican party will get the message that Americans are fed up with Trump - is for all Americans to vote for Democrats on the next election.
Trump never wanted to be President to serve the people of the US. Trump wanted to be President to empower himself and his business dealings. He needs to be envied, admired, put on a pedestal, so that he can feel good about himself.
Trump, in truth, is a small man, lacking a moral compass or an ability to sacrifice for the greater good of others, by giving of himself. Trump will go down in history as the worst President of the US.
And for the record: I believe Dr. Ford. And I won't forget what the Republican Party did to elect B Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
55
It requires strength to be honest and trustworthy. Trump is weakness.
27
This is exactly why it is SO important to Vote November 6th. Right now we have a Senate and Congress that will do nothing about overseeing trump's actions. We absolutely must have oversight.
39
Stop. Just stop. Stop beating around the bush with questions like:
“.... the F.B.I. building has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the running debate over whether his business holdings create conflicts of interest with his duties as president.”
There ARE conflicts of interest. He flaunts them with impunity. He always has.
He’s got to laugh each day knowing no one will ever call him out on this issue. The time for being circumspect is long over.
46
@SMK NC -- The NYTIMES indulges in ridiculous squeamery whenever our anti-president is mentioned. Donald Trump, according to the TIMES, took Stormy D as a lover. Love? He copulated with her. But that formulation was too much truth for the TIMES.
1
So let's see, yesterday the White House says:
President Trump tells his Cabinet to cut the fat
So now, rather than tolerating the Hoover building while a new site is built, and then moving ONCE, they want to scatter the FBI into what will be marginal spaces, and then move back in ... many years ... to a new one with a design that Trump likes?
Well, the good news is that he will get bored with this and move on to some other "critical" issue.
Like telling us about his new and best ever vetting for refugees, or how a balanced budget is coming soon?
16
@jhanzel
The next headline will read "GSA Cuts Deal to House FBI in Trump Hotel".
2
Yet another example of why the office of the president - regardless of who they are - needs to be reined in. Modern presidents are treated like the king, whose word on every topic and issue must be obeyed (..."POTUS orders..."). The fawning, the groveling (I bristle, for example, every time I hear Trump, in this case though he is not unique in this at all, calling Senators by their first name and he is addressed by them as "Sir" as if they are his subordinates), the elevation of ONE person above everything else in the entire government is affront to a democratic republic. Sadly, though, people only seem to really mind when the office holder is on the other side. But it is a serious issue that affects us all and we need to wake up to the beast we have created.
133
@George S Shoot, no one must treat him like a king, they think it will benefit them to do so. Time to remember he puts on his trousers one leg at a time, just like the rest of us.
1
He calls the president of Mexico by his first name, Enrique... so disrespectful. He does the same with all other world leaders except for Xi and Putin @George S
Of course congress should hold hearings to look into Trump's conflicts of interest. And, of course, they won't.
40
@Frank-oh, but they will....if enough Democrats are elected to turn the Congress.
SO VOTE DEMOCRAT ....Frank.
A real estate developer is interested in real estate. This story is a blockbuster. Nothing happened but it’s a blockbuster. A real estate developer interested in real estate development. I never would have guessed. What’s next. An oil company searching for oil?
4
@Shamrock
How about, ‘A real-estate investor interested in using the power of the Presidency to prevent competition with his investments’? How about, ‘One who does this despite there being laws against this’?
19
@Shamrock - a President is interested in doing business as a President. He sees the office as an opportunity to make much more money than he has already. What is so tough to understand? His money-making friends have no problem getting it.
12
@Shamrock Trump is the president, not a real estate developer. Sadly, he is using his office to line his pockets.
Nobody bats an eyelid at this because without transparency with tax returns how can people trust him? Looks like Trump is putting business interests ahead of governmental duty, or even making investment returns for the government. It looks more like third world corruption and a text book case of conflict of interest. Far from the much-touted draining of the so-called swamp in the campaign, looks like Trump might just slap a drainage protection order on DC’s swamp, to ensure his own businesses operate unchallenged. This is not a Central American junta, it is today’s president in 2018.
143
@Stuart I trust him (as much as I trust any politico) because when he promises to do something he generally delivers, and when he can't it is due to say congress. Now before being president of course he was interested in the potential. Today his organization could not be involved, but he could have an opinion after all it is his expertise. I don't want to spend anything on a new FBI building, fix the old one and somewhat reduce them in areas that are no longer so damaging. Shrink government don't expand it.
@Stuart:He doesn't need any more billions he has so many already so you can't buy him. All politicians outside of self made Billionaires like Trump are owned by their campaign donors. His family are almost Billionaires by themselves so this story angle really is foolish.
While we must respect POTUS's opinion that the FBI building across the street from his hotel is "ugly", we must also respect the opinion of many citizens and world leaders that his hair is also quite ugly.
Too, it looks quite fake !! That's it, ugly and fake.
Many people are saying this. That I can tell you. Ugly and fake!!
32
@Samm
We need to remind him of that every time possible.
Than maybe, just maybe, when he gets a big fat dose of the same invective and low balling that he never hesitates to dish out to everyone else, he'll get the point.
2
The graft and corruption from Trump Swampland is no longer surprising.
23
Please, of course, he is, why is this even news? He has hundreds of conflicts, all falling into the "How do I make money as President" category, and his party allows him to get away with it.
Let it go......then next story will be him at the groundbreaking....
13
So the guy that's suppose to be thinking about running the government is spending time thinking about his business.
Why is this not hard to believe.
When you're sick you go to the doctors, not to a lawyer.
When you want to run the government you elect a politician not a business man.
41
How long, folks, are we going to put up with this self serving, hypocrite of a human being? I see only his main goal to boast one day of the headlines to mention his name as the most powerful and wealthy despicable human being still living on this earth. And having acquired all of these wealth while stealing from all the hardworking taxpayers women and men of this country- shame, shame, shame!-
68
@Robust I agree, how come there is no accountability?
14
American business and high finance has been full of crooks and pathological liars in recent years -- Bernie Madoff , Dennis Kozlowski and Kenneth Lay spring to mind -- but Trump is the only one of them who keeps getting exposed by the press without suffering any penalties for this.
The Guinness Book of Records is doing him an injustice by not giving him an award for this.
49
Is anyone surprised?
23
@BV
The word is outraged.
If the property does not have enough room for all the FBI personnel it does indeed need to purchase more land outside the city. There also needs to be more hotel options close to the important places on Pennsylvania Ave. And, horrors, a mall or Galleria that sells trump bobble heads & those tacky red hats. He should not be allowed to dictate buildings in DC. Definite conflict of interest. Does he not realize by keeping the FBI there, it is easier for them to spy on him & his business?
9
@Nostradamus Said So Why do all of them need to be in the same place? Why in Washington? Perhaps another building would be better in say Nashville with dedicated fiber optic connections. Or perhaps the FBI is too large already and could be re-engineered to be more effective and cheaper. Building when you are broke is the last option.
This president does whatever he wants. He has yet to face any consequences from a Republican Congress so why should he worry?
The solution to this behavior is to vote Democrat in the midterms. This from a life long moderate Republican until 2016. Enough is enough, Americans.
68
It's really quite simple:
Ask not what this project will do for the country, ask what this project will do for Trump
52
Hail to the Dollar-Bill-In-Chief !
No decent public policy or common good need apply.
November 6 2018
Flush hard !
68
As with all Trumpian things, follow the money. Simple as that.
32
Exactly the right decision. The FBI should stay on Pennsylvania Avenue for symbolic reasons and urban orientation. No whining about CIA-campus envy.
5
Aside from continuing to use the presidency to aid his languishing business, the ongoing feud between Trump and the FBI would indicate this may be yet another power play to exert control. If he had the power to move them to the basement he probably would. Most people who operate in the grey tend to avoid confrontation with those that investigate illicit activities but not this president. Bold and egocentric, Trump continues to bash heads and one day will find he is no longer protected from prosecution.
167
@James C
The FBI of J.Edgar Hoover is dead. But the FBI of D. John Trump lives. Most Presidents feared Hoover. Now most FBI Directors fear Trump.
With all of Trump's attacks on the FBI, and the alleged interest Russia has in keeping Trump in power, plus Trump's other allies--paedophiles, sex offenders, tax cheats, MBS and Saudi Arabia's leaders, Kim Jong Un, Duterte--it would not be acceptable to have him, or his companies, held directly or indirectly, be involved in any way with the design and construction of a new FBI headquarters.
Not only is there a conflict of interest financially, and another instance of Trump using his office to create personal wealth.
There is the idea of spy cams and microphones being imbedded in the facility, if Trump were to build it, so that he and enemies of the U.S., as well as U.S. lawbreakers who are friends of Trump's, would be privey to all confidential, supposedly secured conversations and strategies held in that building. They would have a "leg up", with this knowledge, on how best to continue their illegal activities undetected.
With a current President who is more Mafia don than public servant, it's in the U.S.'s, DOJ's and national security's best interests to keep Trump and all of his companies, shell companies and "friends" far away from any government-related work.
182
@Lilou
If only we lived in a limited power divided constitutional republic of united states where the people were the ultimate sovereign then there would be hope and a remedy.
Conflicts of interests require humble humane personal honesty, integrity and morality for effective credible resolution.
rotten to the core
he ran on clearing the swamp and has "developed" it into a manure lagoon
82
Donald Trump and the Republican Party likely are considering redeveloping the site as a headquarters for the Proud Boys, Identity Evropa, the Traditionalist Workers Party or any of the scores of other neo-Nazi, racist violent right-wing mobs who enthusiastically support this presidency. Fox News might even get a studio there.
14
he wants to put "his" FBI in one of "his" buildings. we are so done.
28
Of course. Remember, Carter had to aell his peanut farm yet we voted this bufoon into office and little fanfare was made about his conflicts of interest. Trump does what he wants, says what he wants, demands for what he wants, has tantrums when he doesn’t get what he wants...without significant consequences. I still can’t believe he is our president. What a total disgrace.
224
@Melanie A. Jimmy Carter didn’t “have to” sell his peanut farm. He voluntarily did so to avoid any appearance of a conflict. How quaint.
18
we shake our heads in 'almost' disbelieve. 'almost' because we are getting to the point where nothing surprises us. this [Trump] administration continues its march to a "transactional" government with profit only in mind, mostly for their own pockets. and Trump's response? "Who cares. I won! I'm president and your not!"
23
Since Trump hasn't been legally held accountable to a single ethics violation since he took office, we can assume these are just codes of propriety. I always imagined there were laws in place to enforce them, with professionals ensuring they were adhered to by those in government.
It says something about all the presidents before Trump that the current self-serving abominations, one after the other, are so grating.
34
There are laws to protect against this kind of abuse. Unfortunately, the all rely on Congress to do its job. Trump will continually be allowed to break and circumvent the law as long as he's enabled by the current Congress and the party which controls it.
5
@JustJeff
Don’t understand why upholding these laws requires a perennially partisan congress instead of an independent federal legal team. It would ultimately serve both parties more effectively that way.
The FBI building is worse than ugly, it looks like something built in 1970s East Berlin to house the police state's spies and enforcers. Trump's involvement is beside the point. The razing of this eyesore and the construction of something more suitable at such a prominent location should be expedited. The FBI can stay or go to Virginia, whatever. Improving the aesthetics of Pennsylvania Avenue in our otherwise elegant capital city should be the main consideration.
5
So you're saying debatable aesthetics are more important to this country's governance than indisputable corruption? Trump's involvement in this scandal is entirely the point.
22
@John No one is arguing for preservation. The building will go either way.
6
The information in this article tells me that DT's run for the White House began years ago, as a way to build up his brand and wealth. There is no other reason why this poor excuse of a human being became interested in running for President by any means necessary.
Now is the time for US, the electorate, to vote him and his supporters out of office.
When they go low,
we fight harder...and smarter.
43
@Marathoner “Poor excuse for a human being.” That’s acceptable?
4
They should move the Walter reed now in Bethesda to Virginia’s ft Belvoir and move the fbi to Bethesda. Both military hospitals are way underutilized and Bethesda already has much of the infrastructure for a fbi facility. It would kill two birds one stone.
12
President Trump doesn't do anything unless it either protects or advances his business interests.
67
Trump does not even attempt to hide his graft and corruption anymore.
113
Corruption, and the appearance of potential corruption, typically have two adverse consequences: (1) perverting good governance; and (2) causing concern and expending effort regarding questionable or suspicious motives for decisions (and the investigations into them that may become necessary).
Trump, at least, saves us the second such adverse consequence. His self-interested avarice and greed is so complete, so pervasive, that we never have to worry about "questionable" motives. We know, from the outset, that his motives are always - and solely - to serve himself. If only we were free from the perverted governance part!
30
The acorn doesn't fall too far from the tree, does it? This is possibly the most corrupt administration in US history, and it all starts at the top. It is surprising, though, that so many supposedly honest folks enable this continued corruption.
94
@Atwood If they are enabling him, they are not honest. What is most disturbing are the hypocritical evangelicals who believe Jesus sent Trump to clean up the dirt which to them are those who don't accept Jesus.
7
Shocked! Shocked I tell you, that each and every decision made by Donald Trump is subject to the calculus valuating his personal wealth and aggrandizement. That train, the train of Trump's abject egotism, has long left the station. The time has come for we, the people, to act.
54
Just another example of Trump putting personal business interests before his job to put the interests of the American people first. Why am I not surprised?
Thank you for this investigative piece and the history behind Trump's involvement. And I am also not surprised that everyone at the photographed meeting in the Oval Office was admonished not to disclose anything about it. After all, it would show that Trump may be violating the emoluments clause.
285
@Barbara
No wonder Trump is so mad at the FBI.
Trump has all of his faith, loyalty and trust in Russian military intelligence aka GRU, Russian domestic intelligence aka FSB and Russian foreign intelligence aka SVR.
Trump’s United States is open for business, in partnership with the American Treasury. Anyone who can't see his massive conflicts of interest is simply not looking.
For several generations American's have been wanting a "businessman" as President. Is it too much to ask that he/she be honest?
The breathtaking corruption in Trumps cabinet falls on deaf ears and blind eyes.
But it's all good - we're getting great reactionary judges, gutting environmental controls and changing the face of America to the world. America is really great.
Vote and throw the bums out!
155
@Paul
Ahh, the American Treasury! Now that's an idea. You may have hit on something. Who's our man in the Treasury. Let's get on it. This could be the biggest project in history! The biggest project in history. That I can tell you!! That I can tell you.
4
Your nihilism is showing, you big corporate boys.
Your President is destroying key trade relationships, ripping apart whatever defense alliances we had, offending and alienating friends and now, in a burst of innovation unlikely ever to be equaled, retrospectively sanctioning political murder and the silencing of the press, and we're talking real estate?
Granted this is interesting in a "confirming that Trump never actually removed himself from managing and benefiting from his business, just as we always knew but pretended not to for the sake of good business etiquette" way.
And, granted, that the long view dictates that none of this matters because Trump is busily assuring our national capital will soon be under the sea, habitable only by delicious crustaceans and those living in under-water abodes.
Wait a minute...he really is a genius.
And finally granted, cutting lose the losers grubbing at the government trough, expecting to receive medical and social benefits they have been paying for all their lives might cause some ripple of an effect in the economy and the so-called national community, I can see why the prospect of The Trump International FBI and Deep State World Headquarters Campus (magnificent Oxon Hill vistas, ice skating, The Evangelical Playground) excites.
But, honestly, you think we're going to last long enough even to break ground?
35
@oogada-interesting question....it's a toss up.
Of course it's because of potential competition with his hotel! If there are any ethics watchdogs left working in federal government, they should disqualify him from weighing in...and then PLEASE sell the land to Ritz Carlton and run him into bankruptcy number 7 as just the beginning of our message of good riddance!
125
It should not require Democrats controlling congress to hold Trump accountable for any potential conflicts of interest. Nor should Trump HIMSELF put himself in any potential conflicts as president. Somebody like the Whitehouse council needs to sit this guy down and explain that the federal government is not his cookie jar. Not for him, or any member of his family, pronto.
203
@Rose
There is no Article in our Constitution that empowers nor mentions any White House Counsel.
Trump is the one and only Article II executive office President that we have in our divided limited power constitutional republic of united states.
The “president” hates the idea of people recusing themselves...why would he recuse himself due to a mere conflict of interest? He is a venal, myopic individual with no concern whatever aside from enriching himself with money and publicity. This likely further corruption can be no surprise.
59
If the change was an "FBI decision" then who made that decision and why? Did Sessions and the FBI Director make the change in an effort to please Trump?
28
Nobody should complain that the U.S. presidency is for sale. It's also for rent.
Oh what a tangled web of mostly real estate dealings we weave.
20
Are we really wondering whether Donald Trump is involved in something because of its connection to his personal wealth? That's his sole reason for his existence. He doesn't care about anything else...not family, friends, country.
348
@Dario Bernardini
And that is why Benjamin Netanyahu,Vladimir Putin and King Salman selected him as our President.
1