Dan Weiner
@danw329.bsky.social
Director, Elections and Government Program, Brennan Center for Justice @ NYU Law. Previously, Senior Counsel, FEC. Husband. Dad. 🇺🇸🏳️🌈✡️
Clarification: payments **other than** his salary.
October 21, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Clarification: payments **other than** his salary.
Fixing this problem is how you start rebuilding Americans’ faith in their government. It’s happened before and will need to be a priority again.
October 21, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Fixing this problem is how you start rebuilding Americans’ faith in their government. It’s happened before and will need to be a priority again.
The rules also have little to say about appointees he can fire at will getting involved in matters where he has a direct financial interest.
October 21, 2025 at 9:14 PM
The rules also have little to say about appointees he can fire at will getting involved in matters where he has a direct financial interest.
The bigger problem is that anticorruption rules for the federal government are in tatters. For one thing, the president is exempt from many of the most basic safeguards. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/pol...
Proposals for Reform: National Task Force on Rule of Law & Democracy
The National Task Force on Rule of Law and Democracy is a nonpartisan group of former public servants and policy experts who have come together to develop solutions to repair and revitalize our democr...
www.brennancenter.org
October 21, 2025 at 9:14 PM
The bigger problem is that anticorruption rules for the federal government are in tatters. For one thing, the president is exempt from many of the most basic safeguards. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/pol...
That’s the kind of basic conflict of interest all lawyers are supposed to avoid. See:
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Legal Ethics and the Rule of Law
All practicing lawyers within and outside the government are bound by ethical rules, standards, and commitments that protect against abuses of power.
www.brennancenter.org
October 21, 2025 at 9:14 PM
That’s the kind of basic conflict of interest all lawyers are supposed to avoid. See:
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
As is often the case, the real question is: who decides? It definitely shouldn’t be people the president not only appointed but who were literally his personal lawyers handling some of the same matters giving rise to his claims.
October 21, 2025 at 9:14 PM
As is often the case, the real question is: who decides? It definitely shouldn’t be people the president not only appointed but who were literally his personal lawyers handling some of the same matters giving rise to his claims.
But...the payout demand was first made in 2023 and arises from events that happened when Trump was not in office, so he can argue it’s not prohibited.
October 21, 2025 at 9:14 PM
But...the payout demand was first made in 2023 and arises from events that happened when Trump was not in office, so he can argue it’s not prohibited.
On its face, the Constitution’s Domestic Emoluments Clause bars payments to the president from the federal government. This would seem to be exactly the kind of scenario the Framers worried about when they included this provision. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
The Emoluments Clauses, Explained
The framers wanted to insulate the president and federal officials from corrupting influences, but a new law is needed to ensure effective enforcement.
www.brennancenter.org
October 21, 2025 at 9:14 PM
On its face, the Constitution’s Domestic Emoluments Clause bars payments to the president from the federal government. This would seem to be exactly the kind of scenario the Framers worried about when they included this provision. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Money in politics is a central issue for voters across the political spectrum, and we plan for this to be a recurring series as we move towards the 2026 midterms and beyond.
October 11, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Money in politics is a central issue for voters across the political spectrum, and we plan for this to be a recurring series as we move towards the 2026 midterms and beyond.
You can find more of our writing and analysis on this topic here:
www.brennancenter.org/series/corru...
www.brennancenter.org/series/corru...
Corruption in the United States
The threat that corruption poses to democracy has never been greater, requiring bold reforms to return power to the American people.
www.brennancenter.org
August 11, 2025 at 9:03 PM
You can find more of our writing and analysis on this topic here:
www.brennancenter.org/series/corru...
www.brennancenter.org/series/corru...