Monday, December 19, 2016

What did Donald Trump do today?

He declined to comment on evidence that he was selling post-Inauguration access to himself and his sons for $1,000,000 and $500,000, respectively.

A document leaked to TMZ, and then independently confirmed with its authors by Politico and TPM, advertised private access to Trump for million-dollar donors, and a "multi-day hunting and/or fishing excursion" with one or both of Trump's adult sons. Eric and Donald Trump, Jr., will be managing their fathers' business concerns, but have also taken an active role in shaping their father's administration. The Trump transition team referred questions to the organizers.

The document says that the proceeds will go to unspecified conservation charities. During the campaign, Trump said that Hillary Clinton was corrupt because she accepted charitable donations to her foundation, and that this was like taking bribes.

So what?

  • If something is corrupt when your political opponent does it, it is corrupt when you do it.
  • Some of Trump's voters may have taken him seriously when he said he thought doing things like this was corrupt.
  • It's bad if presidents literally sell access to themselves.