Mitch McConnell: Ethics Are For Democrats, Apparently
- Charlie Biscotto
- Jan 9, 2017
- 3 min read
Over the weekend, it emerged that several of Donald Trump's choices for Cabinet positions have not cleared review by the Office of Government Ethics. This is not a surprising development. More than two weeks ago, the New York Times had already reported on the added challenges of vetting the multiple nominees with billions of dollars in personal wealth and investment, especially when compared to past administrations because, as the article notes, "[past administrations] were doing their own vetting that the Trump transition has largely forgone." What is surprising is that Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell doesn't care.
Well, surprising might not be the right word. His own wife is one of Trump's choices, so he could be expected to want a lighter, more accelerated vetting process (though she is not one awaiting unresolved ethics issues). What is a bit shocking is that he's putting his foot on the gas despite his own past statements that then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid should not do so. Former Obama Ethics Czar Norm Eisen today tweeted a copy of a letter from February 2009, where Mitch McConnell (then the Minority Leader) stated among his requirements for considering Barack Obama's Cabinet nominees: "The Office of Government Ethics letter is complete and submitted to the committee in time for review and prior to a committee hearing." There has been no indication that any of Barack Obama's nominees did not meet these standards.
According to Ed O'Keefe of the Washington Post, the following nominees scheduled for hearing this week have either not submitted paperwork to the OGE, have not completed their review, or have not resolved standing conflicts of interest: State Department nominee Rex Tillerson (incomplete), Education Department nominee Betsy DeVos (not submitted), Housing and Urban Development nominee Ben Carson (incomplete), and Commerce Department nominee Wilbur Ross (incomplete). It is curious that Betsy DeVos, selected for her post on November 23rd, has not yet even submitted her paperwork to the OGE, as someone who is valued at over $5 billion will likely have more than a few conflicts to resolve.
McConnell, as noted in the Post article linked above, has asked Democrats to "grow up here and get past that." But the question is, has McConnell grown up, or discovered some new information about best practices? Because in the same 2009 letter he wrote to Harry Reid outlining his standards, he called those standards "consistent with the long standing and best practices of committees, regardless of which political party was in the majority. These best practices serve the Senate well, and we will insist on their fair and consistent application."
He may have meant the phrase "regardless of which political party was in the majority" more figuratively. He may also have meant "fair and consistent" figuratively. Either way, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell isn't taking advice from that loser, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
But Obama took McConnell at his word and complied, despite the fact that the Democrats were in the majority. In fact, according to the Washington Post, "Democrats said Obama’s nominations moved quickly because nominees had submitted requisite paperwork by early January," rendering Mitch McConnell's February letter more showmanship than standard-setting. If Donald Trump is going to claim to be the most transparent president in modern times, his nominees should meet the standards set by his own party eight years ago, and Democrats who challenge Mitch McConnell against his own standards are right to delay Trump's nominees until they comply with the precedent.
The next time we drain the swamp, decide we're not draining it, and then drain it again, I hope we drain Mitch McConnell's unique blend of cynicism and hypocrisy with it.