Trump Is Running His Transition Team on Secret Money

The New York Times ^ | Nov. 24, 2024, 5:03 a.m. ET | Ken Bensinger and David A. Fahrenthold

[E. Pluribus Unum]

President-elect Donald J. Trump is keeping secret the names of the donors who are funding his transition effort, a break from tradition that could make it impossible to see what interest groups, businesses or wealthy people are helping launch his second term.

Mr. Trump has so far declined to sign an agreement with the Biden administration that imposes strict limits on that fund-raising in exchange for up to $7.2 million in federal funds earmarked for the transition. By dodging the agreement, Mr. Trump can raise unlimited amounts of money from unknown donors to pay for the staff, travel and office space involved in preparing to take over the government.

Mr. Trump is the first president-elect to sidestep the restrictions, provoking alarm among ethics experts.

Those seeking to curry favor with the incoming administration now have the opportunity to donate directly to the winning candidate without their names or potential conflicts ever entering the public sphere. And unlike with campaign contributions, foreign nationals are allowed to donate to the transition.

“When the money isn’t disclosed, it’s not clear how much everybody is giving, who is giving it and what they are getting in return for their donations,” said Heath Brown, a professor of public policy at John Jay College of Criminal Justice who studies presidential transitions. “It’s an area where the vast majority of Americans would agree that they want to know who is paying that bill.”

Mr. Trump’s transition team, led by Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, both of whom were nominated to cabinet positions last week, has repeatedly said it intends to sign the agreements with the Biden administration, known as memorandums of understanding.

[Ge0ffrey]

Boo hoo

[Brandonmark]

…provoking alarm among ethics experts.

Makes me think he’s doing it right!

[drSteve78]

It’s not rocket surgery.

WSWYDT

And “it’s nunya biness”.

[drSteve78]

The old gray lady is long overdue for a mini-mental exam.

Past post-menopausal, past Sometimer’s, straight to OldTimers Disease.

[drSteve78]

The old gray lady is long overdue for a mini-mental exam.

Past post-menopausal, past Sometimer’s, straight to OldTimers Disease.

[drSteve78]

Oops fat fingers

[The Louiswu]

It’s an area where the vast majority of Americans would agree that they want to know who is paying that bill.”

---

I’m fine with Trump doing the transition is way so don’t count me in your sweeping statement pal.

[Rockingham]

Bingo. Since the news media run a crooked game, the best approach is to not play their game.

[Vaduz]

By the time he takes office the New York Times will have him excepting money from you guessed it RUSSIA.

The lefts money angle Soros not happy.

[abbastanza]

Trump doesn’t care what they think, and that’s a good thing.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Trump doesn’t care what they think,”

Finally! First time around he thought that if he was nice and respectful toward them, they’d reciprocate.

Now it’s WAR. And I hope he takes no prisoners.

[kiryandil]

gaslighting Duranty Times fabulists Ken Bensinger and David A. Fahrenthold weigh in.

I didn't know that professional liar David Fahrenthold had moved from one bigtime lie factory [The Washingsnot Pest] to another bigtime lie factory [The Spew Barf Slimes]. Fascinating.

[Flaming Conservative]

Oh, noes! Hey NYT, how about you look into who is getting filthy rich, and by how much, on the Ukraine war? No? Not interested? How about investigating the congressional slush fund paid to those who have been hurt in various ways by sitting members of Congress? That’s our tax money; we’re supposed to know where it is spent. You don’t suppose any of those legislators are voting based on having that fund held over their heads, do you? Not interested in that, either? But you are worried that Trump has some donors who agree with him, that cost taxpayers NOTHING? Despicable.

[Political Junkie Too]

Translation: President-Elect Trump is not allowing the General Services Administration spy on his transition this time.

-PJ

[TalBlack]

Well ok! Now, NY Times, how much money came back to the demons from Ukraine?

[piasa]

What part of “optional” do Ken Bensinger and David A. Fahrenthold not understand?

Trying to spin the refusal to use taxpayer’s money as if it is something unethical is a stance only a couple of creepy sleazy liars would take.

[piasa]

I am more interested in who pays to keep the NY Spines in business and what their nationalities are.

[Organic Panic]

“Ethics experts”

Hahahahahahahahahahahahhah

[SamAdams76]

Mega Trump supporter Elon Musk all by himself is worth over $300 billion. He could throw Trump's transition team a half a billion just by cleaning the loose change out of his Tesla's cupholders.

You think the other side is now regretting trying to throw Trump in jail for no reason or even trying to kill him?

After what they did to him, Trump deserves the right to go scorched earth against the Deep State.

[catnipman]

i guess the NYT can attack President Trump with all of this next time he runs for re-election ... oh, wait ...