4 Democratic members of Congress are asking the highest inside watchdogs at 16 totally different federal businesses to research whether or not former lobbyists appointed by the Trump administration might have violated ethics guidelines to profit their very own former shoppers.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Andy Kim of New Jersey and Reps. Pat Ryan of New York and Deborah Ross of North Carolina wrote to the inspectors normal to lift issues about a wide range of former lobbyists-turned-government officers, together with Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi, border czar Tom Homan, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and White Home chief of workers Susie Wiles.
“Whereas federal ethics legislation directs federal staff to not work on issues involving shoppers they represented previously 12 months, we’re involved that some Trump administration officers might have however carried out so,” the 4 lawmakers wrote.
“And even once they adjust to that minimal requirement, after a mere 12 months, their former-client relationships usually stay contemporary sufficient to improperly sway their decision-making.”
They despatched the letter to the inspectors normal at 16 totally different businesses, together with the Justice Division, the Pentagon, the Treasury Division, the State Division, the Division of Well being and Human Companies, the Division of Homeland Safety and the Environmental Safety Company.
As of April 2025, there have been a minimum of 21 former lobbyists who have been appointed to key management roles within the authorities, in accordance with a report by the Marketing campaign Authorized Heart.
Federal ethics guidelines typically bar authorities staff for one 12 months from engaged on issues involving their former employers or shoppers. Throughout Mr. Trump’s first time period in workplace, he prolonged the recusal interval to 2 years, although he has not issued any kind of ethics pledge throughout his second time period in workplace.
Earlier than becoming a member of the Trump administration, each Bondi and Wiles labored for the lobbying agency Ballard Companions.
Since Bondi took over the helm of the Justice Division, the lawmakers allege that a few of Ballard’s shoppers have obtained favorable therapy. The division dropped its opposition, for instance, to the American Categorical-GBT merger, the letter says.
The lawmakers additionally famous that Ballard was retained by each Paramount and Netflix as they each search to merge with Warner Brothers Discovery. Paramount is the dad or mum firm that owns CBS Information.
Duffy, in the meantime, used to work as a lobbyist for BGR Group and represented the Partnership for Honest and Open Skies, the lawmaker mentioned. The lawmakers mentioned that since Duffy’s affirmation, BGR has “expanded its DOT lobbying roster to 19 shoppers,” from 14 throughout the Biden administration.
Wiles additionally beforehand labored for Mercury Public Affairs — a agency the lawmakers famous reported lobbying the White Home for 26 totally different shoppers in 2025, the letter says.
The letter additionally cites issues about Homan, who till final 12 months was the goal of an FBI bribery investigation through which sources say he recorded accepting a bag with $50,000 in money from an undercover FBI agent as an alleged cost in alternate for future authorities contracts, sources beforehand confirmed to CBS Information.
Deputy Lawyer Normal Todd Blanche later publicly acknowledged the existence of the investigation and mentioned it was closed after the FBI discovered “no credible proof of any legal wrongdoing.”
Homan has additionally individually denied any wrongdoing and claimed he didn’t settle for any cash.
Spokespeople for the Justice Division, the White Home and the Division of Transportation couldn’t be instantly reached for remark.
