Trump’s Ethical Breaches Prompt Criticism of Biden’s Lack of Reforms

Ethics watchdogs criticize President Trump for his controversial actions, including accepting a luxury jet from Qatar and launching his smartphone. Critics say Trump is not solely to blame; they criticize Biden for failing to execute significant ethics reforms when he had the chance. Experts argue that without strong leadership and commitment to ethical governance, the cycle of corruption may continue, making accountability a growing concern.

Ethics watchdogs have been vocal about President Donald Trump’s approach, asserting he is perhaps the most conflicted leader in U.S. history. Since his return to the White House, Trump’s actions, such as dining with wealthy investors for a personal cryptocurrency fund and accepting a $400 million private jet from Qatar, have alarmed many critics. Recently, his company unveiled Trump Mobile, a new wireless service paired with a $499 smartphone, raising further concerns given its oversight by federal agencies run by Trump appointees.

The ethics advocates based in Washington D.C. are scrambling to understand how this could occur. Many are calling for reflection among Washington’s self-proclaimed watchdogs who, while usually leaning left, have found themselves shocked by Trump’s ethical breaches. They assign primary responsibility to Trump but say former President Joe Biden must share the blame for failing to instigate crucial reforms.

Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette from the Project on Government Oversight highlighted the lack of significant reforms under Biden’s administration. “The single biggest failure of the Biden administration was that he and Congress didn’t pass any post-Watergate-style reforms,” he stated. Experts agree that more should have been done while the Democrats controlled Washington. A significant ethics and democracy bill from late 2021 was never finalized. It aimed at banning foreign money for officials (like Trump’s recent ventures) and tightening regulations around who can serve as acting leaders at federal agencies.

Some critics argue Trump alone bears the brunt of the blame here. A former Biden official pointed out that blaming Biden for Trump’s ethical lapses shows a deeper issue within the Democratic Party. The concern is not just about more laws but also about enforcing the existing ones, as many experts question how a government can be insulated from Trump’s influence.

White House spokesman Harrison Fields pushed back against criticisms of Trump, asserting that the President is “restoring the integrity of the Executive Branch” and boasts of unprecedented transparency during his administration. The Office of Government Ethics has kept mum on queries about potential conflicts of interest, an issue exacerbated when Trump dismissed the Biden-appointed director of the agency.

In January, Trump Organization introduced an ethics pledge claiming Trump would step back from managing his businesses and avoid transactions with foreign governments. Lawyers stated this initiative was to maintain “the appearance of conflict;” however, critics argue that ethics laws don’t robustly apply to a sitting president.

Some experts note Biden was more focused on passing landmark legislation regarding the pandemic, healthcare, and climate issues than on ethics reform, which they feel should have been simpler to address. Hedtler-Gaudette remarked that comments from White House officials often suggested they were aiming to promote compliance, yet that only meant adhering to a weak framework of existing ethics laws.

While the House passed the notable Protecting Our Democracy Act, it died in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Experts believe that without vigorous support from the Biden administration, ethical legislation may struggle to gain traction, as it did during Democratic unity in Congress.

An unnamed former Democratic Hill staffer admitted that ethics bills got sidelined in favor of urgent national issues. The ongoing pandemic and other pressing matters took precedence, leading to a left-behind agenda that may have had merit in another context.

Donald Sherman from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington pointed out that Trump’s administration has shifted perceptions of acceptable behavior. “Government corruption isn’t unique to one party, but Trump has redefined standards to such an extent that it’s hard to ignore,” he explained. After the January 6 Capitol insurrection and Biden’s inauguration, there was a moment of Democratic superiority that some feel was not leveraged properly.

Sherman noted the early Biden administration represented a missed opportunity to enact substantial ethical reforms in a unique political environment. “This glaring moment now raises concerns as Trump’s previous actions have predictably escalated corruption in his latest term,” he concluded.

In summary, the fallout from Trump’s presidency continues to raise significant questions about ethics in government. Many watchdogs believe that while Trump is primarily responsible for shattering ethical norms, Biden’s inaction also plays a crucial role. The inability to push through meaningful reforms while having the chance has left advocates frustrated. As ethical dilemmas persist, the contentious political landscape faces increased scrutiny over accountability, and the GOP wrestles with the implications of such breaches. Therefore, both past and present leadership must reevaluate their approach to ethics or risk further reputational damage to the office.

Original Source: www.cnn.com