Fast forward 9 weeks:
âThe Office of Government Ethics (OGE) revealed on Monday that the White House is investigating whether Jared Kushner broke any laws or regulations by reportedly taking White House meetings with businesses that later loaned money to his familyâs business.â
Ya think?
Standard procedure in these inquiries is for both parties to say yes, they met, but nothing related to Kushnerâs businesses or the loans were discussed. Additionally, itâs asserted the lending institutionâs officers that OKâd the loans were not in the meetings, nor were they privy to anything discussed in the meetings. Lacking a recording, or a whistleblower present in the meetings willing to testify to the contrary, everyone is off the hook. The lone accusation that might stick at that point is the appearance of impropriety. No one goes to jail for that, nor do they ever suffer significant sanctions or penalties otherwise.
In re David Apol: Former OGE head Walter Shaub criticized the appointment of Apol, saying âmoves like [Apolâs history of advocating for consultation with the White House prior to issuing policies] jeopardize O.G.E.'s independence.â
Say no more, say no more. Nudge, nudgeâŚ
When you assign a fox to investigate the hen house, they rarely ever find any evidence of predators eating the hens.
Even if the loans went through the ânormal processâ at Citibank, that is not reassuring.
Very simple solution:
Ethics Office Says White House Investigating Two Kushner Loans
Funniest thing Iâve read all week.
And itâs only Tuesday morning.
âEthics Office Says White House Investigating Two Kushner Loans.â
Only 2? Seems low.
Way low.
The Office of Government Ethics (OGE)
Thereâs still an Office of Government Ethics? What an incredible oversight by the Trump administration.
Once upon a time, the standard advice to someone in these kinds of positions was to do everything you could to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
These days the advice seems to be, pay no heed to public perception and cover your tracks as best as you damn can, then when they come sniffing around your door, lie.
Kushner is in deep financial trouble and desperate for money.
Heâs more desperate than the most desperate person youâd ever heard of before youâd heard of him.
(Did I mention that heâs desperate?)
Take back our country!
Run for office- and run FOR something! Donât just run against Trump. Youâll either be preaching to the choir or confirming, in some peopleâs minds, that âthe elitesâ are out to get their man.
Get REAL specific, too. You want to run on jobs or healthcare reform or the new landfill? You must have a plan. Show whatâs needed and show how to make it work. THEN point out the differences between having a plan and vague promises to work on a plan âvery soonâ.
This site, https://www.runforoffice.org/, allows you to enter your ZIP code and see what offices are available to you and the filing window for that office. They also have a few video short-courses on running a campaign. In my state you file for office during a 1-week period in May.
Become a Precinct Committee Officer, sometimes itâs a Ward officer. Meet your neighbors and get out the vote. Find good citizens willing to run for office.
Run for School Board. Make sure Civics is being properly taught. Think a majority of America knows how government works? Just 26% of eligible voters in America voted for Trump, and half of all voters stayed home last November. HALF! Todayâs 12-year olds will be voting for President in 6 years. Make sure theyâre prepared.
Run for Mayor, City Council, County Commissioner, Borough Assembly. And get on your Planning Commission.
Run for State Legislature or Congress. The next census is in 2020 when weâll redraw Congressional Districts. Make them fair and open. Trump is ALREADY trying to rig the census- talk about âvoter fraudâ!
Register people to vote. If you need to help people overcome the GOP-led voter-run-around campaign help them do that. This site, https://www.aauw.org/resource/organize-a-voter-registration-drive/, has a how-to on organizing a voter registration drive. Or even sitting outside Wal Mart with a folding chair and a card table. Yes, thatâs the American Association of University Women. And while weâre here organize a League of Women Voters chapter in your community if you donât already have one. Fair, honest and above board. Democracy functions better with them involved.
Civics, civility and civilization all share the same roots. Get crackinâ!
Only two?
ETA. I see drtv beat me to it.
How long before he uses a page out of dadâs book and runs the olâ Honey Pot at Trump to try to rope him in on the loan mess.
Well ok then!
âEthics Office Says White House Investigating Two Kushner Loans.â
Kushner responded to our inquiry on this matter stating in an email that he had broken no rules.
The Ethics Office concludes its investigation in record time with the finding that it found no evidence of wrong-doing.
MAGA!