November 10th 2024.
According to sources from CNN, President-elect Donald Trump has not yet submitted a series of transition agreements with the Biden administration. One of the reasons for this delay is due to concerns over the mandatory ethics pledge that requires him to avoid conflicts of interest once he is sworn into office. During his time as President, Trump faced criticism from ethics groups over potential conflicts of interest related to his businesses and brands. His family's business ties, both domestic and foreign, have also been under intense scrutiny during his presidency and campaign.
As President Joe Biden and Donald Trump prepare to meet in the Oval Office next week, it has been revealed that Trump's transition team is already behind in accessing key transition briefings from the Biden administration. This is because they have failed to sign a pair of agreements that would unlock critical information before taking over the federal government in 72 days. The main holdup seems to be the mandatory ethics agreement, which is required by law under the Presidential Transition Act and applies to all members of the transition team. However, a source familiar with the process has stated that details are still being worked out with the Biden administration regarding this agreement.
Updates to the bill that require the ethics pledge were introduced by Trump ally Sen. Ron Johnson and signed into law by Trump himself in March 2020. However, the source would not elaborate on the specific concerns that the Trump team has about the ethics pledge. As a candidate, Trump's financial disclosures showed that he continued to make millions from his properties, books, and licensing deals. His family also recently launched a new cryptocurrency business, and a large portion of his net worth is tied to a conservative social media network.
The missed deadlines for signing these agreements have raised concerns among experts about the impact on national security preparedness on Day 1 of Biden's presidency. The agreements would have allowed Trump's team access to office space, secure communications, and agencies, as well as the necessary security clearances for classified briefings. Valerie Smith Boyd, director of the Center for Presidential Transition, estimates that hundreds of Trump officials involved in the transition will need background checks for these briefings.
Max Stier, president and CEO of the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, has warned of severe consequences if the Trump transition team continues to fail to engage with Biden's team. He emphasized the importance of prework and interactions with agencies in order to effectively take over the most complex operation on the planet. Stier also pointed out that without participating in these activities, Trump's team would not be fully prepared to take over the government and lead it safely.
In an effort to stress the Biden administration's commitment to an orderly transition, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients reached out to the heads of the Trump transition effort on Wednesday. He reminded them of the necessary agreements needed to move forward with the transition process. However, this is not the first time that concerns have been raised about the missed deadlines for signing these agreements. In fact, Representative Jamie Raskin previously warned Trump that ignoring these deadlines could endanger the transfer of power and threaten national security. This was also a contributing factor to the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001, as neither George W. Bush nor Al Gore's teams were participating in a transition during the recount in Florida.
As the world eagerly awaits the outcome of the meeting between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, it is clear that the Trump transition team has some catching up to do. The missed deadlines and concerns over the ethics pledge have raised questions about the team's preparedness to take over the government in the coming days. Despite the assurance from the White House that an orderly transition will take place, the consequences of not engaging with the Biden administration could be severe and have a significant impact on national security.
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