Rep. Elijah Cummings Memo on Summary of Interview with White House Whistleblower on Security Clearances (01.04.2019)

USA: Senators Warner, Feinstein, Menendez & Reed letter to DNI Coats and IG Atkinson asking for a review of White House security clearance policies (08.03.2019)

Nepotism103: Cutting Corners to keep the Family Close [Kushner-Ivanka Edition]

Well, over the recent day, there been news of a John Kelly of last year trying to stop the White House from giving Security Clearance to Jared Kushner, surely there would be speculations into the wife as well, Ivanka Trump, who is the daughter of the President, both who are in informal or non-specific roles in the Trump Administration. They are there, but not really there. Which makes the whole arrangement more hectic.

However, ever since winning the election, these two, the power-couple behind the President. Has lingered around him. Not that they have any expertise or knowledge in public administration. No, they are just relatives of the President and therefore, trusted counsel. They are not what you say, career civil servants nor been ideological driven to get the position they are in. It is not because of their education or their profession, they have no experience and no merits to prove their value. Therefore, only the blood-line and the relations are the reasons.

That is why it is even more striking, that the power-couple behind the President are under fire today again. Because of an issue that lasted so long. They went so long without proper security clearances. It is now proven that the President demanded the son-in-law to get the Top Secret Security Clearance, even if he could be compromised, lied about foreign communications and other forms, which is used to prove scrutiny and eligibility for security clearances in the White House. The same was done by his wife Ivanka, as she also had revise her forms and information to the officials for Security Clearance.

These two wouldn’t have gotten away with it, if they weren’t related with the President. The White House has already been in a hot mess of the Security Clearances, as there been plenty with interim security clearances and not gotten properly integrated and following protocol, as the staff is supposed to be clear and trustworthy of such. As they are keeping state secrets and ensuring the safety of the Republic. However, instead there been plenty of questionable behaviour and connections, that even the ones who was already flagged and in question got appointed with the likes of Gen. Michael Flynn.

What we have seen and read is yet another step of nepotism. Where the President has resident and ruled in favour of his family and his closest kin over the Republic. Where the President are ordering for his own sake and not for the safety of the Republic. That is why Security Clearance given to Jared Kushner is done in spite of the laws. The same can be said about the position and abilities Ivanka has too in the White House. They are there because of the President and nothing else.

This is what Tin-Pot dictators does. This is what autocrats and tyrants do, because they doesn’t trust anyone else than family. This is like the mafia and crime-families, this is not actions made by government or public administrations, which are taken serious. They would hire and appoint people of expertise and merits in the fields. Not hire family members and give them ultimate security clearances without having an official office or position in the Cabinet.

Instead, they are two internal satellites within the West Wing. Doing whatever they like, as their mission, their value to staff is bound by family loyalty and not by any ordinary function. They are not afraid of being fired or retired. The family will always take care of them. They are as thick as thieves and maybe they are. Since the investigations are following them and they have to answer for the public for the orders and the appointment of themselves. Since, it is a public administration and not a Sopranos. Feel me?

Kushner, explain yourself, why you revised your documents a million times, John Kelly didn’t advance you and later you still got clearance! Explain, also Mr. President explain that and why Ivanka got a vital role, when none is doing anything significant. Peace.

White House Chief of Staff Memo from John Kelly to McGahn, Hagin, Sessions, Coats and Wray – “Re: Improvements to the Clearance Process” (16.02.2018)

Opinion: US Code might allow the White House to Appoint Trump Family Members, but it’s doesn’t make it less questionable!

“3 U.S. Code § 105 – Assistance and services for the President: (e) Assistance and services authorized pursuant to this section to the President are authorized to be provided to the spouse of the President in connection with assistance provided by such spouse to the President in the discharge of the President’s duties and responsibilities. If the President does not have a spouse, such assistance and services may be provided for such purposes to a member of the President’s family whom the President designates” (Cornell Law School).

I don’t know about you, but it’s just one of these days, where you see entitlement in the New York Gang or the Trump Administration. This was made and prepared for the President Donald J. Trump, as he was swearing-in and starting his term. Because the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), who is in-charge of checking and making the sure the personnel and staff is following the codes and procedures for their roles in government. Seriously, the OGE Lawyer worked the laws in his favor, even when I struggle to see it. My first question after reading the US Code 105 Title 5(d), did the President loose his wife? Therefore, because of his tragic loss, he needed counsel from son-in-law Jared Kushner and oldest daughter Ivanka Trump inside the White House. How can you spell the code wrong, “If the President does not have a spouse”. True she was in New York the first months of the Presidency. Still, she was still his spouse, meaning that “he had”. But before I rant, take a look into key parts of the reasoning for the appointments of his family inside the White House!

“Section 3110 of title 5, also known as the anti-nepotism statute, states that “[a] public official may not appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement, in or to a civilian position in the agency in which he is serving or over which he exercises jurisdiction or control any individual who is a relative of the public official.” 5 U.S.C. § 3110(b). The statute expressly identifies the President as one of the “public official[s]” subject to the prohibition, and a son-in-law is a covered “relative.” Id. § 3110(a)(2), (a)(3). Moreover, under Article II of the Constitution, the President exercises “jurisdiction or control” over the White House Office as well as over the rest of the Executive Branch. See Myers v. United States, 272 U.S. 52, 163–64 (1926); Inspector General Legislation, 1 Op. O.L.C. 16, 17 (1977). Less certain is whether the White House Office is an “agency”—a term that section 3110 defines to include an “Executive agency,” thereby calling up the definition of “Executive agency” generally applicable to title 5, see 5 U.S.C. § 3110(a)(1)(A); id. § 105. But whether or not the White House Office meets this definition (a subject to which we will return in Part II, infra), we believe that the President’s special hiring authority in 3 U.S.C. § 105(a) permits him to make appointments to the White House Office that the anti-nepotism statute might otherwise forbid” (Koffsky, P:2, 2017).

“A President wanting a relative’s advice on governmental matters therefore has a choice: to seek that advice on an unofficial, ad hoc basis without conferring the status and imposing the responsibilities that accompany formal White House positions; or to appoint his relative to the White House under title 3 and subject him to substantial restrictions against conflicts of interest. Cf. AAPS, 997 F.2d at 911 n.10 (declining, after holding that the First Lady qualifies as a “full-time officer or employee” of the government under FACA, to decide her status under the conflict of interest statutes). In choosing his personal staff, the President enjoys an unusual degree of freedom, which Congress found suitable to the demands of his office. Any appointment to that staff, however, carries with it a set of legal restrictions, by which Congress has regulated and fenced in the conduct of federal officials” (Koffsky, P: 16-17, 2017).

I will not jumping jacks around this OGE Lawyer Koffsky, but office that is run by the President is an Executive Office, that issues Executive Orders and Executive Memorandums. That if followed by current law and within provisions within the state because legal and acts that all citizens has to follow. To subject the White House into a sublime role of the state is demeaning, even if he needs support of the branches of government like the Courts and Congress. But that doesn’t make the White House into a playhouse for playboy bunnies, its the place where executive orders and legal minds meet to determine the future of the Republic. It’s insulting that Koffsky is belittling the office and the White House, so it fits legally President role and his ability to appoint family members.

Yes, the President is allowed to seek advice and that ad-hock with family members. That is without doubt, but that is different ones in while speak with an uncle in Louisiana before making a decision that matters for both United States and the World itself. There is problematic to hire family into the White House, as their supposed restrictions and the boundaries of their roles. Since the family bond will not be cut, but be ever present in the decision making.

That Jared Kushner is a Public Official is clear with his title and responsibilities, as a Senior Advisor to the President, who is working on American Innovation, Peace in the Middle East and combating the Opioid crisis in the United States. Ivanka Trump is by title the Assistance to the President. Both of them has had a public role and been acting as Public Officials. They have been there, traveling with the President and even taking his place when he was tired or wanted to relax. Like Ivanka Trump did during the G-20 in July 2017, when the not-elected family member took the seat G20 Leaders Table. So her assistance goes further than ordinary public officials. Since, this sort of role would usually end on Secretary of State and the Vice-President. However, it isn’t the case in the matter of Trump Family.

“Enforcement. While the statutory language bars the appointment of relatives as well as the acceptance of such appointments, enforcement of the prohibition may be limited. The remedy expressly provided for violating this prohibition states that the appointed individual “is not entitled to pay, and money may not be paid from the Treasury as pay” for that person. The statute itself does not require nor does it provide expressly for removal of the individual from the federal civilian position. As noted above, the provision was directed at stopping the practice of placing relatives on the government payroll, and thus the law assures that a relative so appointed may not be paid from federal funds for any such service. The statute likewise does not provide a penalty for the public official who appointed the individual. However, it may be noted that for some rank-and-file positions, not of a confidential or policy making nature, the appointment of a relative may involve a “prohibited personnel practice” by the appointing official” (CRS Report & Analysis, 2016).

Here is another one giving leeway for the possible hiring of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, that is if they are in their roles unpaid and with ranks. Even, that is an issue with the role of the Senior Advisor Kushner and all his positions, even the clearances he needs to be able to fulfill his duty at the White House. Ivanka has also been part of the close-knitted leadership of his fathers. She been part of meetings and such. So both of them has been have been close to confidential material most likely, as they work so close with their relative, the President.

Just like covered in People Magazine in January 2017: “Though Kushner’s appointment does not require Senate confirmation, it is a controversial one: Anti-nepotism laws forbid the hiring of relatives to Cabinet positions, but are less clear on whether they can be appointed to White House staff roles. In American history, anti-nepotism laws are actually a relatively recent development: They were put into place in 1967 by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson not long after one of his predecessor’s appointments raised eyebrows” (Pearl, 2017).

So even if the law and the Anti-nepotism law are put in place to accept family members in White House roles. Still, the nepotism is in full affect. There is no half-step on that. The United States should have a hard time accepting the appointment of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump as Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President. All of this has entitled them and given them a special role in the Executive Office of the United States. What is clear by the U.S. Code 105, title 5(d) and will always stand out for the provision in the code that said this: “If the President does not have a spouse, such assistance and services may be provided for such purposes to a member of the President’s family whom the President designates”.

The President has a spouse, his third wife, Melanie, therefore he doe not need such assistance and services. Instead, they are using the titles in the anti-nepotism statutes, they can most likely not be as valuable as these words. However, Koffsky wrote this: “or to appoint his relative to the White House under title 3 and subject him to substantial restrictions against conflicts of interest”. These words are saying that its set substantial restrictions to the office, even as the President has let them be a vital part of his term, Kushner is nearly saving half of America and the Middle-East. Ivanka is publicly part abroad and in Washington. It’s not like they are restricted in that manner, but creating conflicts of interests. That should worry anyone caring about the honest of the public office.

Therefore it was striking what Jason Chafetz said in January 2017: “According to Josh Chafetz, a professor at Cornell Law School and an expert in constitutional law and legislative procedure, the White House is not regulated in the same way as other administrative agencies. “The bigger issue for the administration is not so much about the technical bounds of these nepotism laws, but it just looks bad,” Chafetz said. “I don’t think there’s anything legal that can be done in terms of the appointment. It just looks like there’s a pattern of cronyism that has emerged, especially in conjunction with the cabinet appointments.” (Delkic & Mallin, 2017).

It’s enough. Peace.

Reference:

Koffsky, Daniel L. – ‘Application of the Anti-Nepotism Statute to a Presidential Appointment in the White House Office’ (20.01.2017)

Cornell Law School – ‘U.S. Code › Title 3 › Chapter 2 › § 105’ link: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/105

CRS Report & Analysis – ‘The Federal Anti-Nepotism Statute: Limits on Appointing, Hiring, and Promoting Relatives’ (12.01.2016) link: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/nepotism.pdf

Delkic, Melina & Mallin, Alex – ‘Nepotism Laws Don’t Apply to Jared Kushner Appointment, DOJ Says’ (21.01.2017) link: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nepotism-laws-apply-jared-kushner-appointment-doj/story?id=44951811

Pearl, Diana – ‘Donald Trump’s Son-in-Law Has Hillary Clinton to Thank for Skirting JFK-Inspired Nepotism Rules’ (11.01.2017) link: http://people.com/politics/jared-kushner-nepotism-laws-donald-trump/

Trump is the Golfing President!

“Boredom forces you to ring people you haven’t seen for eighteen years and halfway through the conversation you remember why you left it so long. Boredom means you start to read not only mail-order catalogues but also the advertising inserts that fall on the floor. Boredom gives you half a mind to get a gun and go berserk in the local shopping centre, and you know where this is going. Eventually, boredom means you will take up golf.” – Jeremy Clakson

Donald J. Trump, the American President has been President only for 196 days. Not so long and has had a rocky road. I am quickly and briefly looking into the high-energy and not taking vacations. Something he promised the electorate and the citizens of United States, just like everything else. He lied and keep lying. First take some quotes and where he was shaming his predecessor Barrack Obama, before we looks into his extensive time-offs since getting into office. Clearly, he is playing a lot of golf. The stats and numbers of that is taken from Trumpgolfcount.com, which is page you should check-out if you don’t believe me.

What President Trump said on the 13^th November 2016:

“When Stall told Trump it is $400,000 per year, he said, “No, I’m not going to take the salary. I’m not taking it.” (…) “There’s just so much to be done,” Trump said. “So I don’t think we’ll be very big on vacations, no.” (CNN Wire, 2016).

On criticizing Obama for vacations:

“Trump has long criticized President Obama for his yearly summer and winter breaks. “He takes more vacations than any human being I’ve ever seen,” Trump told Fox News host Greta Van Susteren in 2011. “It sends a bad message. Here we have a country that really is going to hell in a handbasket. . . . And we have a president that’s constantly, whether it’s Martha’s Vineyard or someplace else, constantly on vacation.” (Tracy, 2016).

So the man who complained and nagged on Obama, are clearly a giant hypocrite and is very low-energy. He doesn’t have the stamina or the will-power to stay in the White House. Certainly, he loves his estates and golf-courses more than actually working on policies and executive orders.

Numbers until now at Mar-A-Lago!

In Miami Mar-A-Lago he has spent 25 days. That is over 3 weeks at the Miami Golf-Course and private club. He has taken 7 flights there and is estimated cost of $ 14,392,000. That is the estimated of the flights down from Washington D.C. not the cost of local reinforcement of police, the cost of Secret Service and all the other efforts to secure the President.

Numbers until now at Trump National Bedminister:

In another club he owns and in New Jersey, the President has spent 11 days at Bedminister. He has had 6 flights costing the public tax-payer $ 3,598,000 in flight charges. That is not taking the extra cost of Secret Service, other security officials like Police and local authorities securing the Trump National Bedminister. This is something that would cost the New Jersey state extra, just like the visits to Miami and Florida State. At the 31^st of July 2017, the President had already been golfing for 41 days in his now 196 days into office.

So with this in mind, as plans to spend 17 more days at the Trump National Bedminister in New Jersey. This means the count when is done is 48 days of total 212, which means that ¼ of his days in office by 212 has been spent on a self-owned golf-club. So that he was bashing others for their vacations and playing golf. Was so, so wrong, since he is himself worse and the biggest orange hypocrite in history.

This is how the Boston Globe staff describe his vacation place:

“Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, they noted, is located in Somerset County, one of the tonier sections of New Jersey that are not visible from the New Jersey Turnpike” (…) “Trump’s property cost him a cool $35 million in 2002 (expensive!),” they wrote. “(A)nd … membership at the Trump-owned golf course there reportedly costs $300,000 (too rich for our blood!)” (Fox News, 2017).

So he is again at golf-club, who seems overprice and expensive, but that wasn’t surprising. Clearly, the amount of time spent on his own properties and his own companies. Are showing how he plans to spend public funding on himself and his businesses, that is still owned by family and controlled by the family. While other Presidents has sold their businesses or put them in blind trust, not like Trump, who has given Eric Trump and Donald Trump Junior the control. So he can have it all close and tight-knit.

But he is a lazy President, a low-energy and a weak one. Since he is using one-fourth of the time on the green and not in the office. That is why there is no legislation victory or written that could get both chambers to win from the President. That is why the Tax Plan is mere a Christmas Wish-list, than actually policy. Koch Brothers should get their greed-on and their drink-on since it is their wishes that will be fulfilled.

President Trump could have worked for Taylor-Made and not for the White House. Since he spends so little time there. Peace.

Reference:

CNN Wire – ‘Donald Trump: Not big on vacations, no salary as president’ (13.11.2016) link: http://myfox8.com/2016/11/13/donald-trump-no-big-vacations-no-salary-as-president/

Fox News – ‘Trump vacation site sparks feud between New England, New Jersey’ (05.08.2017) link:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/08/05/trump-vacation-site-sparks-feud-between-new-england-new-jersey.html

Tracy, Jan – ‘Ever untraditional, Donald Trump elects to pass on vacations’ (21.08.2016) link:https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2016/08/21/donald-trump-keeps-busy-work-pace-averse-vacations/vsZK55k2we8AkJP2CpMVmK/story.html

New Jersey Governor Christie Sanctions a ‘State of Emergency’ over a State Budget standoff!

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the Donald Trump lackie has clearly had an all-powerful vision as the budget for 2018 hasn’t been able to negotiate. Therefore, he signed the Executive Order No. 228, this one he sealed on the 30^th June 2017. Just before the Independence day weekend. So the Jersey Shore will be sealed of the people going on vacations, the ones wants to chill in New Jersey, has to hit the casino’s and not the beaches. Clearly, not a populist strategy by the Republican governor.

Because the state representatives couldn’t constructively make a budget with his fellow people in the State Assembly. Clearly, the Governor must have an agenda, since he pulls the State Constitution and uses his powers to pull a ‘State of Emergency’. So the state functions stops, because of the powers he has as a governor. Certainly, he needs to show power and his strength towards the State Assembly.

What is striking from any perspective is these passages:

“I invoke the emergency powers conferred upon me by N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33 et seq., and all amendments and supplements thereto, and such other powers as may be conferred upon me by the Constitution and the Statutes of the State of New Jersey” (Executive Order No. 228). “Until such time as there is enacted a General Appropriations Law for Fiscal Year 2018, I reserve the right to take such actions and issue such orders or directives as may be necessary to meet the various problems presented by this emergency, to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this State, and to ensure the continued provision of essential State services. The exercise of these emergency powers shall, when required, be subject to future payment of the reasonable value of goods and services, subject to appropriation, and as provided by law” (Executive Order No. 228).

“All employees whose services are not deemed essential pursuant to this Order shall be deemed furloughed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 11A:6-1.1 and shall be governed by the rules implementing that program, except as may be prohibited by law. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to any such employees who are necessary to implement the orderly shut down of programs and functions as provided in paragraph 16 of this Order upon the completion of such shut down, as determined and documented by the head of the department or agency” (Executive Order No. 228).

So within the bounds of the State now, the core essentials will be working, the needed services and state officers will be there, but the rest will be suspended. Therefore, the famous lackie Christie decided to stop the funding and allocations to the different state functions. Because he wants the State to be on its knees, so the will of the governor can be counted in the budget of 2018. This proves his will for power. He will use Emergency Powers to settle the score of the budget negotiations. So he will keep the state functions hostage over debate and needed State voting in the State Assembly for budget. This isn’t for time of war, this isn’t for time of terrorist crisis. The Governor does this over Budget voting and Budget allocations for the next Financial Year. So they are making sure there a fiscal sound budget and good balance accordingly to the State needs.

Chris Christie has really taken the powers in his hands and he should also fix it with the representatives within the State Assembly, the State of Emergency over budget negotiations and voting of budget post is bewildering. Does seem like he feels his voice isn’t respected or his standing isn’t graceful enough. Clearly, the New Jersey National Assembly needs to talk and vote on the coming election. The State Services and the State Organizations shouldn’t be suspended by the governor, since the state representatives has their duty, the same has their executive. What is visible, that the invisible and needed show of power came into play. Since Christie clearly cannot talk or negotiate with his peers in New Jersey. Not only his ratings, but his scandals are now following him. Peace.

Nepotism102: Family Matters – Jared Kushner and Ivanka’s role in the White House!

“It is only with the development of political institutions like the modern state that humans begin to organize themselves and learn to cooperate in a manner that transcends friends and family. When such institutions break down, we revert to patronage and nepotism as a default form of sociability.”

― Francis Fukuyama

Well, President Donald J. Trump cannot handle being ordinary or being honest. He has to lie and deceive, it is in his nature and his past. Therefore, he can like a buffoon blaming the Clinton for having a private e-mail server, while he has sensitive information and such on an android. So, it is not like the President himself is a careful as he should be. Not that he really cares. He never cared about anything else than his own bloated image.

President Trump, the so-called Conservative Republican, has gone and done a few unthinkable things. First he used his sons and oldest daughter as part of the transition team, as well as the sons of Vice-President Mike Pence and later hired Security Official Mike Flynn, who was all part of the team! Well, for Donald that is not enough, his bar for nepotism isn’t big-wig enough.

His little trust in other people and his own judgment was so weak he had to have his son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka Trump at the meeting of the Japanese Prime Minister Shino Abe. As the New York Times wrote: “After Mr. Trump’s transition office was asked by The New York Times about allowing Ms. Trump to attend the meeting with the Japanese prime minister, an individual close to the family, who said she did not have authorization to provide her name, hinted that Ms. Trump would not be attending meetings like this in the future” (…) “Mr. Trump has always encouraged Ivanka and his children to attend meetings with him,” the person close to the family said. “This meeting in question was very informal. However, they obviously need to adjust to the new realities at hand, which they will” (Lipton, 2016).

Still, this has not stopped the family matters to become State matters. Something that should worry the world and Americans, as the entangled and the inter-state affairs colluding with personal business, can likely happen. Since the Trump family doesn’t care about ethics or general conduct as long as the striving companies they are running is gaining profits.

In January the Son-in-Law was hired by the President to an advisory role:

“Mr. Kushner has been described by numerous transition staff members as the first among equals in Mr. Trump’s high command. His new title belies the sweeping influence he will have behind the scenes” (…) “The soft-spoken Mr. Kushner has often been described as having a calming effect on Mr. Trump, who is notorious for yelling at staff members during moments of tension. Mr. Kushner became the de facto campaign manager in the spring, and his influence with Mr. Trump has expanded rapidly” (Thrush & Haberman, 2017).

So after being in the campaign team, being in the consultation meetings with foreign leaders, the couple was part of the leadership. Still, only the son-in-law got a title and office inside the White House. That should be bringing enough family matters into the hollow chambers. That Jared Kushner becomes on the same level as others and created a role around the President proves the critical problems with this appointment. It would be if Vice-President Mike Pence hired his son as a staff member and an under the office of Vice President.

So if that was enough when the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the White house in February 2017, into the second month of the Trump Presidency. So this was written about the event days ahead:

“In this Feb. 1, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump, accompanied by his daughter Ivanka, waves as they walk to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. According to officials, Ivanka Trump, who has been a vocal advocate for policies benefiting working women, was involved in recruiting participants for a round table discussion that will be held Monday, Feb. 13, about women in the workforce. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will participate in the round table” (Vucci, 2017). The pictures of this round-table debate that went viral, was of this one where Ivanka Trump was participating with the foreign Prime Minister. This shows the lack of integrity in the new Administration, but Trump will continue.

Just as the March month arrives and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel came to visit the White House, Ivanka Trump got “work training” as she participated in another state visit for her father without official clearance or jurisdiction, as the procedure and protocol of state doesn’t matter to this President. He thinks his position is all family. If Barrack Obama had hired or had his wife in closed door meetings with foreign leaders; he would have cause havoc and storm, but President Trump is allowed to do this without to much fuzz, except for dress-code and how people looks at Ivanka.

“In the end, Angela Merkel couldn’t hide it. Seated next to Ivanka Trump at a White House meeting with business leaders on Friday, the German leader tilted her head in the first daughter’s direction as Ivanka spoke, a look of bewilderment tinged with disdain enveloping her face” (…) “Why are you here,” Merkel, never a good pretender, seemed to be thinking” (Karinitsching, 2017). Everybody should understand Merkel, not like Ivanka is a serious politician or civil servants, she is daddy’s favorite daughter. That is known for the world and not disgraceful to say.

That this isn’t enough? Well, for Trump and Trump Administration the Nepotism has to be in Authoritarian leadership worthy, not only at meeting and being beside the President, also appointed, as the daughter haven’t been appointed like the husband Jared Kushner. Still, she has been a key player in the rooms of foreign affairs and foreign policy. Because of the level that President Trump has in her. Still, that she gets a place before career officials and others who has done this as their profession, show’s the lack of understand of what State work and how diplomacy works.

So that the news today that Ivanka get clearance to sensitive and confidential information, as well as a office inside the White House without being appointed proves the Nepotism. Surely, soon could Eric Trump and Donald Trump Junior even get hired by their father inside the White House. As well as Tiffany Trump could be spokesperson for the father instead of Kellyanne Conway. That is just the next step.

“Ivanka Trump will have her own office in the West Wing of the White House that comes with a security clearance for classified information, although she will not have an official title, according to a White House official” (…) “Trump will still comply with the ethics rules for government appointees though, even if she technically isn’t one, Trump’s attorney Jamie Gorelick told the Associated Press” (Abramson, 2017). So the family lawyer have dropped the news to the AP and therefore verified the news yesterday.

The family lawyer Gorelick, who has addressed the Trump Organization and other close connected businesses of the family. Therefore, that he did do it proves the capacity and the levels of family matters instead of skills or career.

That President Trump hires Ivanka and Jared inside the White House. Donald, doesn’t care about the legal or ethical perspective, nor about the jurisdiction of state or even common sense. Even as protocol or even justification of this entangled between the family and the Executive. That this could be done inside the Trump Organization is more reasonable and understandable, as the Private Business and Corporate policies are different, than how a State and Government supposed to work.

President Trump deserves to be sanctioned for this, as this words should be key:

“The key for the White House will be to ensure not just that they recruit the best people for the top job at an agency, but to make sure that agency leaders are viewed as a team rather than individuals. The secretary, deputy secretary, chief of staff and other top agency leaders should all complement each other in terms of both expertise and personality. For example, if the secretary is someone who is most comfortable acting as the “face” of an agency and policy agenda, then the deputy secretary should be the one to manage the agency on a day-to-day basis as the chief operating officer. Keeping this in mind when making specific appointments will help build a cohesive, well-functioning unit that will provide effective, unified leadership at the agency” (Center of Presidential Transition – ‘Presidential Transition Guide’ P: 74, 2016).

So, President Trump thinks more individuals and family, more than protocol and the ethical perspective of how he is involving the family into state affairs. That the State becomes mixed with family is not a trait of the United States, but now the Trump Organization and Trump Administration is closer than before. If and when there will be more scandals, more nepotism and misuse of the power… will come, but when is only about question of time. Peace.

Reference:

Abramson, Alana – ‘ Ivanka Trump Will Have West Wing Office, But No Official Title’ (20.03.2017) link: http://fortune.com/2017/03/20/ivanka-trump-west-wing-office/

Karinitschinig, Matthew – ‘Merkel’s Ivanka moment’ (18.03.2017) link: http://www.politico.eu/article/merkels-ivanka-moment/

Lipton, Eric – ‘Ivanka Trump’s Presence at Meeting With Japan’s Leader Raises Questions’ (18.11.2016) link: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/ivanka-trump-shinzo-abe.html?_r=0

Thrush, Glenn & Haberman, Maggie – ‘Jared Kushner Named Senior White House Adviser to Donald Trump’ (09.01.2017) link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/09/us/jared-kushner-senior-adviser-white-house-trump.html

Vucci, Evan – ‘Trump, Trudeau to discuss women in workforce’ (12.02.2017) link: http://www.am1250theanswer.com/news/politics/trump-trudeau-to-discuss-women-in-workforce

Opinion: Further proof that the Trump Administration will be filled with inclination for themselves!

“I am sure that the Trump children will be there to support their father in informal capacities, and I think these are just regular inquiries among many that are made when folks are transitioning into a new administration — for the Trump family, a new city” – Kellyanne Conway on NBC Today on the 15^th November 2016 (Sherfinski, 2016).

We’re living in a special day and age, where the racial-biased and White Supremacist expect they can automatically insult and exaggerate the outcome of policies that effects their voters base, like in the U.S. rural angry-white men who votes in the Mississippi and Ohio, than say the blue-collar and highly educated ones in the bigger cities in California or up in Yankee land in and around New York.

That is special and unique the way the Trump Administration and Trump himself carries criticism. They already carry themselves as entitled and honorary people as they just days ago where citizens and ordinary men in some ways. The proof of that is how Donald Trump closed the Lincoln tunnel between New York and New Jersey:

“Commuters got their first taste of “Trump-lock” after the Lincoln Tunnel and the express lanes of I-78 were briefly closed late this afternoon for a motorcade carrying President-elect Donald Trump across the border to New Jersey.  The motorcade caused 30-minute delays to commuter buses traveling in and out of New York City. It continued west on I-78 to Bedminster for meetings of with Trump’s transition team at Trump National Golf Course — about 35 miles from the city” (Higgs, 2016).

This proves that his entitlement are already there with the security, motorcade and the closing of roads for the ordinary citizens he is supposed to represent This is the ordinary ones of dictators and such who close downs towns, business-districts or like President Museveni who closed the only good road between Entebbe International Airport and Kampala during the Weekend visit of Turkish President Erdogan during 2016. This is now the future for the American citizens too, you must be so proud!

Another questionable affair, which proves the little trust Donald Trump has in other human beings, is that during one of his first meetings with world leaders. He couldn’t do that without his oldest daughter Ivanka Trump; who is supposed to be a part of miss-educated guess of what a blind trust of Trump Organization is. She was appearing and taken part of the humble meeting between Donald and Japanese Prime Minister Shino Abe.

NYT writes this:  

“The potential for conflicts of interest between President-elect Donald J. Trump and his family’s business ventures emerged again Thursday evening, when a photograph was distributed that showed his daughter Ivanka at a meeting between Mr. Trump and the prime minister of Japan” (…) “News reporters were not allowed to attend the session, Mr. Trump’s first with a foreign head of state, and no summary was provided about what was discussed. A separate photograph was distributed — press photographers were not allowed to cover the event — showing that Jared Kushner, Ms. Trump’s husband, was present for at least part of the gathering” (Lipton , 2016).

This is questionable behaviour and nepotism at its finest when family members and close connected to it are apparent at State Functions and negotiations, even meetings like this. If the world would care, they would do the same with this as they blast President Jacob Zuma for hiring his kids in businesses that needs government contracts and are bound by businessmen who are connected with him like the Gupta’s. This is the same behaviour, just being more direct and proving how little President Trump cares about the perceived corrupt behaviour and opportunity to use the State as golden goose for his businesses and trade-deals in the future. Don’t doubt that when can this early have all his kids in his Transitional Executive Committee, and now has husband of Ivanka and Ivanka herself present at a function like this!

If you believe otherwise you’re either naïve or a Trump apologist like Joe Scarborough on MSNBC.  I do not know what kind of procedure that Donald we’re used to at the Ivory Tower and under his Trump Administration, but this is different as the stakes are higher than going bankrupt in Atlantic City or losing liquor license. This is serious and has to concerning that the benefitting business of the government can become the Trump Organization, like it could be other places where the doling government money are being through shady straw companies ending enclosed bank-accounts in Tax-Havens and in Swiss Secret Accounts. When Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner already showing up with clearance’s and with any precedence for being there with Prime Minister Shino Abe, than you can question the judgement of Trump.

I am sure at one point and to the right state of affairs in the mind of Donald, the other sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. will show up to certain meetings. Where they will offer guidance and principals to the matter, even if there already not in their field of expertise or in their paygrade; the government seems to starting to a Trump Family matter, less to make America Great Again, but more get the Trump Family hired by itself again.

On that note, the security clearance and the sense of making that for other than visiting is showing his plan of incorporating his whole Trump Organization machine at the White House. Carry on as usual, but doing some governmental stuff now and then, if not just follow blindly advice from Stephen Bannon, Mike Pence or Reince Priebus. Not easy to know who that will be. Certainly having Ivanka, Donald Jr, Eric and Jared in the lines of the Cabinet shows how little regard his has of the system and governance; Trump doesn’t want accountability and transparency, he wants all sort of control with all information and gaining the benefits. So that the State business becomes his business; which is a scary scenario as the importance is not what benefits the citizens, but what benefits him and his family that already playing roles for the Trump Organization and as State Advisers under the Trump Administration; this can only go bad and go for the good of Trump and not the society. Peace.

Reference:

Higgs, Larry – ‘N.J. commuters get first taste of Trump gridlock’ (18.11.2016) link: http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2016/11/bus_and_highway_commuters_get_first_taste_of_trump.html

Lipton, Eric – ‘Ivanka Trump’s Presence at Meeting With Japan’s Leader Raises Questions’ (18.11.2016) link: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/ivanka-trump-shinzo-abe.html?_r=0

Sherfinski, David – ‘Kellyanne Conway: Security inquiries for Donald Trump’s kids made ‘very informally’ (15.11.2016) link: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/nov/15/kellyanne-conway-security-inquiries-donald-trump-k/

Nepotism101: A look into the Donald Trump’s Presidential Transitional Team Executive Committee!

Just days after I write about the coming Banana Republic made out of the Republic of United States of America, then the newly elected, who happens to be President-Elect has in timely fashion collected together his coalition of the willing to succeed President Obama and his Democratic Party. Therefore he has follow traits of fellow compatriots of other states that involve family, friends and fellow business associates. So that the American Experience under President Trump, can become a Family Affair and a true to my word a Banana Republic; thanks for delivering that one Mr. President!

Let us recount what nepotism is and do that by opening up a book called a dictionary and see what it recall and what it means, really means, bigly!

Two definitions from the dictionary:

First: “the unfair practice by a powerful person of giving jobs and other favors to relatives”.

Second: “favoritism (as in appointment to a job) based on kinship”

(Merriam-Webster Dictonary – ‘Nepotism’ link: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nepotism).

As of today the Trump Organization makes themselves ready for the White House, the Oval Office and try to make Donald Trump, Presidential. I am sure that the Republican Party had some people who we’re qualified to help on the way, as the party should have somebody who has delegated and had honest responsibility in government in the past. Still, they we’re all pick-away from the newly elected President. These people better be good suited because the Presidential Transition team has certain aspects to consider as these:

Memorandum of Understanding with the Obama Administration:

“The Edward “Ted” Kaufman and Michael Leavitt Presidential Transitions Improvements Act of 2015 requires the incumbent administration to negotiate such an MOU with both major party candidates. These MOUs would, at a minimum, cover the conditions of access to agency employees, facilities and documents by transition team staff” (Presidential Transition Guide, P: 20, 2016).

Up to the Candidate:

“It will be up to the candidate, transition chair and executive director to decide the right mix of skills, expertise and personality in rounding out the transition’s senior leadership team. Some positions require a deep network of contacts while others demand political savvy or stellar communication skills. Assembling a team that functions smoothly, stays on task and makes good management decisions is essential” (Presidential Transition Guide, P: 38, 2016).

Even if it is up to the Candidate to pick the mix of the Transition team, we should still be allowed to question the Presidential Candidate, if Hillary Clinton had picked Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, we would have addressed that and called that corrupt behaviour.

Today the Trump Administration hired these fellow family members to the Transition Team:

Donald Trump Jr, the first-born son, who happens to be the Vice-Executive President of the Trump Organization.

Ivanka Trump, the oldest-daughter, who happens also be a Vice-Executive President of the Trump Organization.

Eric Trump, the third child of the first wife, is also a Vice-Executive President of the Trump Organization.

Jared Kushner, the husband of Ivanka Trump, the CEO of Kushner Companies and has successfully run the New York Observer.

So four key people inside the Transition team is close family members, I am sure if Barron Trump we’re old enough he would have been put in the mix. This is A-Typical nepotism as the major parts of 17 people team, with Vice President Elect Mike Pence on the top of it. The Nepotism is clearly following, but knowingly how little Trump trust anybody else than himself, the team is set-up to make sure his will get through the hurdles of power and that the procedure will follow.

Outsiders to the Transition Team:

Peter Thiel, a co-founder of Pay-Pal and helped Hulk Hogan to sue Gawker.

Rebecca Mercer, the daughter of the major donor of Robert Mercer, the founder of Breitbart and other institutions to change policy in America.

Expected for the Transition Team:

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, the man who has to carry water-buckets for Trump the next 4 years.

CEO of Trump for President Stephen K. Bannon, the former CEO of Breitbart Radio and Media and the former film-director that actually still collects royalties from Seinfeld!

These are some of it, if you’re surprised by this you shouldn’t be. The other close connected political affiliates are someone who has been near him as a businessman. So he continues to connect, not only family but with the ones who has interfered with the Trump Organization.

Like the Auditor General Pam Bondi of Florida State:

“What attracted far less attention than the numerous stories about the Clinton/Foundation connection was news disclosed by the Washington Post that Donald Trump paid a penalty to the IRS involving a $25,000 gift by the Trump Foundation” (…) “The recipient was a political committee called And Justice for All controlled by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. As a registered nonprofit, the Trump Foundation was not allowed to make political donations. The gift violated federal regulations” (…) “That the gift was given and received is not in dispute. The transaction took place. After the IRS action, Mr. Trump reimbursed the foundation and paid the $2,500 fine personally, according to a spokesman for the Trump Organization” (Miami Herald Editorial Board – ‘Donald Trump’s gift to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi deserves a closer look’ (06.09.2016) Link: http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article100286287.html#storylink=cpy).

She has apparently already been offered money and been an ally of Trump, since she hasn’t solicited the Trump University like the Auditor General in New York; the Trump Campaign sees it fit to hire her on the Transitional Team. That proves that close connections to Trump in the past pays off right now.

Also on the Team is the Fox Business News (FBN) and Republican giant fund-raiser Anthony Scaramucci. The Skybridge Captial hedge-fund capitalist who turned into a Republican newscaster and such; he is also been the Trump Financial Adviser. Who has said this:

“Republican Party loyalist Anthony Scaramucci, 52, the co-founder of SkyBridge Capital Management, which invests in hedge funds (including Paulson’s), was a lead organizer of last night’s event. He is in the red this year, down about 4 percent through mid-June. But like Trump, Scaramucci has morphed into a performer, with a weekly cable-TV show on Fox Business — Wall Street Week — and an annual Las Vegas confab for hedge-fund bigwigs and their investors. The high-octane event also features movie stars and politicos, and Scaramucci prides himself on being able to bring diverse groups together. (Whether or not it was Scaramucci’s doing, hard-core Ted Cruz supporter Robert Mercer, billionaire co-CEO of the Long Island–based hedge fund Renaissance Technologies, was moved to attend the event and officially become a Trump donor.)”(Michelle Celarier – ‘Meet the Wall Street Titans Who Back Trump’ (22.07.2016) link: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/06/meet-the-wall-street-titans-who-back-trump.html).

So they guy who was able to collect the needed funds and connect with the billionaire Robert Mercer, get hired into the team as payback for service rendered. It’s proves the liability and not the talents, skills, experience or even necessary knowledge of how to build a needed cabinet and Presidential Advisors for the Trump Administrations.

We can all question the selections of men and woman who has become parts of the Trump Transitional Team, as there are too many questions to their obligations and their needed skill-set for creating a smooth and good Government. This are people connected directly to the Trump Organization, and very few people are connected with Congress and the House; also the weakness of system.

The people of the congress that are selected by the Transitional Team are the ones that endorsed Trump like Pennsylvania Congressman Lou Barletta, Pennsylvania Congressman Tom Marino, Congresswoman of Tennessee Marsha Blackburn and California Congressmen Devin Nunes. So the men picked by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and accepted now by the Vice-President Elect Mike Pence. Show’s the handpicked portefolio that is expected in away, still different from the other ones picked to the team. To pick political affiliated and bearers of the same vision of the future is normal. As these persons are believing in the same kind of racial, immigrations scared kind of reality as the current elected President Trump. So this is sort of normal, like Obama picked men and woman with visions similar to himself. That is accepted, but we can still bounce at them.

A bleak prediction:

We can surely look forward to Ivanka Trump becoming Secretary of Health and Human Services, Eric Trump becoming Secretary of Labour and Donald Trump Jr becomes Secretary of the Interior. Son-In-Law Jared Kushner becoming the Secretary of The Treasury, so the family is running the Republic in the image after their paternal leader Donald Trump…

I hope that isn’t happening, but one of them might end up White House Chief of Staff, as he wants a trustworthy man to be in charge of appointments by the President and during his term in office.

We can question the collective attitude with the selection of this Transitional Team to takeover for President Obama and his administration. We should then see if they make wise decisions of picks men and woman who kiss-ass the President in the past, or people who are fit for the offices, so the skill-set and the experience for the growth of the state.

The Nepotism might have started, don’t be surprised if even Michael Sexton from Trump University gets a sweet-spot in the Administration. The loyalty showed in the past, might pay-off and the ones that has suited Trump before, might be the ones who are credible to work with him now.

So the favouritism and family matters are coming in function this time around. That the Trump Organization will be vital part of the White House will most likely become running questions of just appointments and use of state funds that just happens to benefit businesses owned by the President.

We can now, by the quickly appointed men and woman sees a possible pattern and question if the Presidency will be righteous or just fitting Trump himself. Which should be a worry, the Tea Pot Scandal of the 1920s could be replicated by the Trump administration:

“During the Teapot Dome scandal, Albert B. Fall, who served as secretary of the interior in President Warren G. Harding’s cabinet, is found guilty of accepting a bribe while in office. Fall was the first individual to be convicted of a crime committed while a presidential cabinet member” (…) “As a member of President Harding’s corruption-ridden cabinet in the early 1920s, Hall accepted a $100,000 interest-free “loan” from Edward Doheny of the Pan-American Petroleum and Transport Company, who wanted Fall to grant his firm a valuable oil lease in the Elk Hills naval oil reserve in California. The site, along with the Teapot Dome naval oil reserve in Wyoming, had been previously transferred to the Department of the Interior on the urging of Fall, who evidently realized the personal gains he could achieve by leasing the land to private corporations” (…) “In October 1923, the Senate Public Lands Committee launched an investigation that revealed not only the $100,000 bribe that Fall received from Doheny but also that Harry Sinclair, president of Mammoth Oil, had given him some $300,000 in government bonds and cash in exchange for use of the Teapot Dome oil reserve in Wyoming” (…) “In 1927, the oil fields were restored to the U.S. government by a Supreme Court decision. Two years later, Fall was convicted of bribery and sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of $100,000. Doheny escaped conviction, but Sinclair was imprisoned for contempt of Congress and jury tampering” (History.com – ‘1929 Cabinet member guilty in Teapot Dome scandal’ link: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cabinet-member-guilty-in-teapot-dome-scandal).

So we could easily see some cabinet minister offering agreement between the President Trump that benefits businesses owned by the Trump Organization who needs fresh funding and could be similar to the Tea Pot Scandal. Don’t be surprised as the Nepotism game has started and the proof will be the indication of the next steps of policy and procedures from the White House administration under Donald J. Trump. Peace.

Reference:

Center for Presidential Transition – ‘Presidential TRANSITION GUIDE’ (April 2016)