A former aide to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has raised significant concerns about the potential for corruption among President Donald Trump’s allies, even amidst the ongoing legal protections offered by presidential pardons.
Amanda Carpenter, who previously served as communications director for Cruz and now works with Protect Democracy, discussed these issues in a recent episode of Legal AF. During her conversation with host Somil Trivedi, Carpenter outlined strategies that could allow for accountability despite the challenges posed by pardons.
Under Trump’s administration, the pardon power has become a pivotal tool. Carpenter pointed out that Trump has been rumored to consider pardoning a wide array of individuals connected to his administration’s activities. “It has been widely reported that he is considering giving pardons to anyone within 200 feet of the Oval Office,” she claimed, raising alarms about the lack of accountability in financial misconduct.
Despite these concerns, Carpenter proposed an intriguing legal remedy known as civil disgorgement. This process allows the government to recover profits gained through illegal or unethical means without relying solely on criminal prosecution.
“We have laws on the books that allow us to get money back if those profits were obtained in an ill-gotten way,” Carpenter explained, emphasizing that existing regulations could be leveraged to push back against corruption.
Carpenter identified several avenues that Congress could explore through civil disgorgement. These include scrutinizing no-bid contracts, cryptocurrency profits, slush funds, extravagant gifts received by Trump, and elaborate pay-for-play schemes.
Furthermore, she asserted that financial dealings involving private entities represent a path to accountability. Carpenter highlighted that while public officials like Trump and members of Congress might refuse to cooperate with investigations, there are often private actors who can be compelled to provide evidence.
“Members of Congress, Trump—they might defy subpoenas and the like. But on all of these deals, there are private actors on the other side,” Carpenter said. “A lot of this is discoverable because the paper trail is so thick.”
As an illustrative example, Carpenter pointed to Clark Construction, suggesting that state attorneys general could pursue cases against such companies to recover funds linked to unethical dealings.
Her remarks come at a time when many Americans are concerned about the lack of consequences for corruption. With Trump’s repeated use of pardons, skepticism around government accountability has intensified.
Carpenter’s advocacy for civil disgorgement suggests a potential pathway for accountability that does not solely depend on the often sluggish and politically fraught criminal justice system.
Though immediate accountability measures face significant hurdles, Carpenter remains optimistic that reclaiming ill-gotten gains can alter the landscape of political corruption. “These aren’t new laws,” she argued, reinforcing that these methods already exist and can be routinely enforced.
In light of Carpenter’s call for action, discussions around lawmaking may gain urgency in an increasingly contentious political climate.
The implications of these legal strategies go beyond recovering funds; they could also shift the narrative around what constitutes acceptable behavior within the highest levels of government.
As the Biden administration faces challenges in dealing with former Trump officials, Carpenter’s insights highlight an underutilized area of law that could lead to tangible change in the fight against political corruption.
Ultimately, the discussion underscores the importance of vigilance and accountability in the democratic process, particularly as scandals continue to surface within the political realm.
With calls for accountability growing louder, it remains to be seen how lawmakers will respond to Carpenter’s strategies amid the complexities of Trump’s ongoing tumultuous relationship with the legal system.
As new revelations continue to emerge, the fight against corruption in American politics remains as pertinent as ever.
