There are so many Trump scandals that it's hard to keep up with them all. But we shouldn't forget about his "border czar" taking $50,000 in cash as a bribe.
The Tom Homan Affair Has More Red Flags Than a May Day Parade
The accusations are explosive: That in 2024, Tom Homan, now President Trump’s border czar, met with some businessmen who handed him $50,000 stuffed into a bag from Cava, the fast-casual restaurant chain; in exchange, Mr. Homan would help with government contracts if Mr. Trump were to win re-election. In reality, the “businessmen” were undercover F.B.I. agents who reportedly recorded the exchange. [ ... ] The first red flag is apparent enough: Mr. Homan and the White House gave inconsistent responses to the allegations. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told reporters that Mr. Homan never took the money — a flat, categorical denial. Mr. Homan has said only that he did nothing wrong and nothing illegal. Notice the difference. If Mr. Homan did not accept the bag of cash, why not just say so? Why fall back on a narrow denial about wrongdoing or illegality? [ ... ] The second red flag is even more alarming. When Mr. Trump took office, Mr. Homan was under F.B.I. investigation for bribery. And yet he went on to serve as a senior White House official, likely with a high security clearance. How did that happen? Obtaining a security clearance is a rigorous process, particularly for senior officials. Investigators are supposed to scrutinize an applicant’s background, finances and potential vulnerabilities to influence. An active federal investigation for bribery should set off alarm bells, at the very least. [ ... ] On his first day in office, Mr. Trump allowed the White House to give interim security clearances to top officials without vetting them. Who knows how many senior officials didn’t undergo a background check? [ ... ] The third red flag is less obvious but no less significant: the tax implications. Believe it or not, the Internal Revenue Service requires individuals to report all income, even illegal income such as bribes. It may sound absurd, but it is the law. If Mr. Homan did in fact accept a $50,000 payment, did he report it as income on his taxes? If not, that omission could conceivably constitute tax crime, a serious federal offense in its own right. Just ask Al Capone.
Yeah, Capone got sent to prison for tax evasion. Just what do you do with $50,000 in cash anyway? Is it in some closet still kept in a Cava bag?
ProPublica has a report which looks at the specifics of Homan's "business" dealings.
Trading on Tom Homan: Inside the Push to Cash in on the Trump Administration’s Deportation Campaign
Capitol Hill Republicans know about the rampant corruption in the Trump administration but are pretending it doesn't exist. By tolerating corruption, they become participants in the corruption.
