Anti-corruption laws serve a key role in making certain that government officials work for the American people, rather than the highest bidder. Even as president, however, Trump has always treated his loyalties as up for sale — so it landed as little surprise when on Sunday, March 1, the president and the secretary of the treasury announced that they would ignore a federal law that requires the federal government to keep a registry of people who control U.S.-based shell companies.
International criminals and corrupt actors often use shell companies to launder money and pay bribes. By ignoring their obligations under the shell-company law, which Congress enacted in 2021, Trump and his administration have put down a welcome mat for any foreign governments, criminal organizations, or businesses that might seek to secretly pay him off.
- How Trump Sold America Out to His Kleptocratic Friends [The New Republic]