Congress Must Act on Corruption in Executive Branch
Concerns about corruption in the US executive branch have been growing for months. This week, Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate presidential families abusing power, specifically targeting Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden.
The investigation would be a crucial step in rebuilding public trust in Congress. Revulsion towards corruption is a cross-partisan issue, but most Americans have little faith that Congress will take action.
Recent reports have highlighted brazen instances of executive branch self-enrichment, including the proposed 'anti-weaponization fund', which would allow the president to make decisions in his own case and potentially direct taxpayer money to individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.
The Washington Post reported that companies owned by Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have received $3.2 billion in Defense Department awards, including five companies that got their first federal contracts after the Trump sons invested. Additionally, three months after Trump Jr.'s firm invested in a startup called Vulcan Elements, it landed a $620 million loan from the Defense Department's Office of Strategic Capital, following a phone call from the White House.
Congress must also examine regulation tied to self-interest and sales tied to the executive branch. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's reported net worth has roughly doubled, largely due to his family's new crypto investments. David Sacks reportedly remained invested in 449 AI companies while he was White House AI and crypto czar.
Congress must close loopholes that allow corruption to thrive. This includes the Supreme Court's weakening of anti-bribery laws and the lack of conflict-of-interest restrictions on the president.