**Excerpt:** Democratic lawmakers are urging federal watchdogs to investigate whether former lobbyists appointed by the Trump administration breached ethics rules while in office.
Key Points:
– Four Democratic Congress members have sent a letter to inspectors general at 16 federal agencies.
– They expressed concerns about former lobbyists potentially violating ethics rules for their own benefit.
– Notable figures mentioned include Attorney General Pam Bondi and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
– Federal ethics rules typically restrict former lobbyists from working on matters involving their previous clients for one year.
– Investigations highlight possible favoritism towards clients of lobbying firms associated with former officials.
Full Article
Investigation Request
Four Democratic lawmakers are calling for an investigation into potential ethics violations by former lobbyists who were appointed to key positions in the Trump administration. The lawmakers—Senators Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Andy Kim (NJ), along with Representatives Pat Ryan (NY) and Deborah Ross (NC)—have reached out to the internal watchdogs at 16 federal agencies.
Concerns Raised
The lawmakers’ letter raises specific concerns regarding the actions of former lobbyists who may have worked on matters benefiting their previous clients. They referenced that federal ethics laws prohibit former federal employees from engaging in matters involving clients they represented in the past year. However, they expressed doubt about compliance with this rule.
Notable Figures
The letter cites several former lobbyists now in government positions, including:
– **Pam Bondi** (Attorney General)
– **Tom Homan** (Border Czar)
– **Sean Duffy** (Transportation Secretary)
– **Susie Wiles** (White House Chief of Staff)
The lawmakers noted that even after the one-year cooling-off period, associations with former clients may still influence decision-making.
Specific Allegations
The inquiry highlights actions involving Bondi and Wiles, who both previously worked at Ballard Partners. The letter claims that since Bondi’s appointment, clients of Ballard have received favorable treatment, including the dropping of opposition to the American Express-GBT merger.
Additionally, Sean Duffy, a former lobbyist for BGR Group, is accused of expanding the firm’s lobbying efforts significantly after his confirmation.
Homan’s Investigation
The letter also mentions Tom Homan, who was the subject of an FBI bribery investigation until recently. Although the investigation concluded with no credible evidence of wrongdoing, concerns regarding his previous actions remain.
Conclusion
The lawmakers have urged the inspectors general at various agencies, including the Justice Department and the Department of Transportation, to conduct thorough investigations into these matters. The implications of their findings could have significant ramifications for the integrity of ethics enforcement within the federal government.
Leave a Reply