The New York Times continues its reports on Donald Trump’s taxes, this time with (more) clear proof that Trump has been making money off the U.S. presidency.
The shortest possible summary of the Times‘ latest story is that Donald Trump Is A Crook. Not only have “customers” of Trump, in the form of lobbyists, interest groups, and foreign governments funneled roughly $12 million into Trump’s pockets by booking events at Trump’s properties, buying memberships into Mar-a-Lago and his other properties, and just generally hanging out at Trump’s for-profit establishments with the expectation of meeting either Trump, his sons, his toadies, or his allies, but Trump has responded in kind by doing his paying customers favors that can only be fulfilled using the office of the presidency.
If you pay for a Mar-a-Lago membership, you get to meet Trump during one of his many Florida weekends and bring up ways the government could do your company or group significant favors. If you do make those requests, it’s very possible that Trump will respond, reports the Times, by calling over one of his associates and telling them to get it done. Continue reading.