Close Trump Allies Sponsored the Military Parade, Raising Ethical Concerns
Close Trump Allies Sponsored the Military Parade, Raising Ethical Concerns
Federal regulations prohibit government employees from using their public office for private gain.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/15/us/politics/trump-military-parade-sponsors.html
Minho Kim
By Minho Kim
Reporting from the National Mall, where the military procession took place
June 15, 2025, 1:01 p.m. ET
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Federal regulations prohibit the use of public office for the private gain of officeholders or their friends, relatives or nongovernmental affiliates, said Richard W. Painter, who served as the chief ethics lawyer in the White House Counsel’s Office under President George W. Bush.
“The parade is being used for advertising by these entities with close business ties to the president,” Mr. Painter said in an interview. “You’re in a situation where the U.S. government has been used to endorse a product.”
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Norman Eisen, who was a White House ethics official under President Barack Obama, said that the optics of the Trump administration’s tech and crypto sponsorships were “unsavory” and that they raise “the specter” of special treatment because Trump officials are heavily involved in regulating these industries.
“Allowing these entities to sponsor a military parade that seemingly serves to gain them access to and the favor of the president,” he added, “smacks of the abuse of public office for private gain.”
Minho Kim covers breaking news and climate change for The Times. He is based in Washington.
So much more at the link
The New York Times reported that the White House intimated the NYT was tarnishing the Army through its reportage.
Mentioned as contributors were Goldman Sachs, Lockheed, Chrysler, Coinbase, Oracle Coca-Cola, Walmart, among MANY others.
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