“Well, look, I’ll be the oversight. I’ll be the oversight.”

That’s what Donald Trump said, just a little over two weeks ago, when Public Citizen and others were rightly sounding alarms about a secretive $500 billion corporate slush fund that Republicans were trying to sneak into the coronavirus relief bill.

But we have encyclopedias worth of evidence that this president — in particular and perhaps more than any who has come before— cannot be trusted to adhere to standards of ethics, legality and accountability.

Which is precisely why the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package Congress ultimately passed included layers of protections to ensure that Trump would NOT “be the oversight.”

Nine days ago, a Pentagon official named Glenn Fine was chosen to lead the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, the independent watchdog monitoring implementation of the coronavirus relief package to make sure the funds are not misused, misappropriated or misallocated.

Yesterday, Trump removed Fine from that position.

Trump has fired, or threatened, officials in other watchdog (a.k.a. inspector general) roles in recent days, including the official who forwarded the Ukrainian whistleblower complaint to Congress — which led to Trump’s impeachment — and another who accurately reported the severe shortage of personal protective equipment for front-line medical personnel.

To be crystal clear, these officials are — or were — doing their jobs. And those jobs could not be more essential with someone like Trump in the White House.

By trying to sabotage the oversight mechanisms in the coronavirus relief package, Trump intends to corrupt the trillions in spending it unleashes — whether by steering money to his political friends, punishing his political enemies, or enriching his family and their associates.

Thanks to the diligence of groups like Public Citizen — that means you — the coronavirus relief package includes provisions for a new Congressional Oversight Commission.

Now we need to make sure that commission is strong enough to keep Trump in line.

Tell Congress to staff its new Congressional Oversight Commission with aggressive watchdogs.

Add your name.

Thanks, and stay safe.

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen

P.S. This message is part of our ongoing outreach to help you stay informed and involved as our nation and the world grapple with the coronavirus emergency. Public Citizen — like many nonprofits and other small businesses — is feeling the financial strain as this crisis intensifies. If you can, please consider donating to support the critical work we’re doing together. Thank you.
 
 
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