Top US ethics watchdog investigating Trump over dinner with oil bosses
Source: The Guardian
Wed 15 May 2024 06.00 EDT
A powerful watchdog group that has been at the forefront of efforts to hold Donald Trump accountable for constitutional violations is investigating whether his Mar-a-Lago meeting with oil company executives last month merits legal action.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew) has told the Guardian that it is investigating the dinner at Trumps club with more than 20 oil and gas company executives. Trump asked them for a $1bn presidential campaign contribution, while at the same time vowing to undo Joe Bidens restrictions on natural gas export permits, oil drilling and car pollution, the Washington Post reported.
Virginia Canter, Crews chief ethics counsel, said the groups lawyers were investigating what she called a matter of considerable concern. Were taking a very serious look at whether Trumps fundraising pitch to the oil executives for $1bn would merit some further action, she said.
Canter added that details of the discussion between the former president and the oil companies were troubling. This was a very focused small group directed at a particular industry, there was an amount put out there of $1bn, which he described as a deal, which all raises questions about the transactional nature of the meeting.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/15/ethics-watchdog-investigating-trump-big-oil
riversedge
(72,421 posts)https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/15/ethics-watchdog-investigating-trump-big-oil
..........News of Crews investigation came as House Democrats announced their own inquiry into the Mar-a-Lago dinner. Letters were sent from the House oversight committee on Monday to nine oil executives asking for details of their companies participation.
Sheldon Whitehouse, the senator from Rhode Island who chairs the Senate budget committee, which has subpoena powers, is also considering an investigation. In a statement, he told the Guardian that Trumps reported pledge to tear up fossil-fuel restrictions on day one of a second Trump administration, combined with the request for campaign money, was an offer of a blatant quid pro quo.
Whitehouse said it was practically an invitation to ask questions about big oils political corruption and manipulation. He added that his budget committee was looking at how to ensure the industry cannot simply buy off politicians in order to saddle taxpayers with the bill.
Hermit-The-Prog
(36,239 posts)Talitha
(7,367 posts)Rinse and repeat.