Recognizing a dire need, the Trump Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is allowing lobbyists to donate anonymously to White House staffer’s legal defense funds. With the Russia election probe gathering steam, staffers are now positioned to raise needed funds notwithstanding the risk of opening the door to potential conflicts of interest. (Politico, September 13, 2017, by Darren Samuelsohn)
Even if a staffer is just interviewed by the FBI, it could run up $30,000 to $45,000 in legal fees. Former OGE director Walter Shaub criticized the ethics office for its “sneaky” action in changing the guidelines after he left office in early summer. (New York Magazine, September 14, 2017, by Margaret Hartmann)