Donald Trump’s stooge Matthew Whitaker has a whole new problem
Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General and newest bromance target of “President” Donald J. Trump, faces numerous legal challenges to his promotion from Jeff Sessions’ Chief of Staff to Acting Attorney General. Now, new reports are developing as a result of the financial disclosure forms that Whitaker has submitted.
First, the financial disclosures have been amended five times already, suggesting that Whitaker might be getting form completion advice from Jared Kushner, the king of revisions. Second, the disclosures reveal Whitaker received more than $1.0 million from a conservative nonprofit whose funding source is dark money from unknown benefactors. Finally, and most importantly, in a New York Times article on November 20, potential Hatch Act violations were identified. In 2014, Whitaker ran for the United States Senate from Iowa. According to the FEC disclosures Whitaker made, between January 29, 2018 and February 2, 2018, he received four political contributions totaling $8,800, with most if not all of the contributions appearing to be from Whitaker’s former lobbying clients.
The Whitaker campaign committee also made a rental payment for Whitaker’s former law firm on February 2, 2018, and also a payment to one of his former partners, Christopher Hagenow. The committee had been dormant until shortly after Whitaker became Chief of Staff.
American Watch filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel to address potential Hatch Act violations, and also filed a complaint with the Office of Government Ethics alleging Whitaker failed to disclose a significant loan to the campaign.
The most recent alleged campaign committee issues raise additional ethical and legal issues, to the illegal appointment of Whitaker by Trump. Whitaker must tread carefully as his imitation of Icarus has him flying closer and closer to the Orange Glowing Orb that occupies the White House, and his crash to earth may be figuratively as ungraceful and unpleasant as Icarus experienced.
Daniel is a lawyer writing and teaching about SCOTUS, and is the author of the book “The Chief Justices” about the SCOTUS as seen through the center seat.