In the mafia, there is a name for what Pence and Barr did
As a federal organized crime prosecutor, I learned that
the mafia uses a practice known as "kicking up" or "paying tribute" to the boss.
Essentially, all members of a mafia family must make sure that
some of their earnings end up in the boss' pocket.
From the member's point of view, "kicking up" is a way to show respect, curry favor, and reinforce the hierarchical power structure.
From the boss's point of view, it's a way to get rich.
now a political version of it seems to be catching on within the Trump administration. Vice President Mike Pence has decided to stay at Trump's golf resort in Doonbeg, Ireland, during an official visit to Dublin (over a one-hour flight away, so not particularly close or convenient).
in the "posterior osculation" category (as Paul Begala colorfully put it),
Attorney General William Barr reportedly will spend more than $30,000 of personal money
to throw a private holiday party at the Trump International Hotel in Washington DC.
there is no escaping that Barr's choice to patronize a Trump property, like Pence's, will put thousands of dollars in Trump's pocket.
First,
the payments could violate the Emoluments Clause of the Cons ution, which prohibits federal government officials from accepting
(1) "any present, emoluments, le or office" from any foreign country or
(2) any income beyond official salary from any American state or the federal government.
Second,
the decisions by Pence and Barr to patronize Trump's private business raise vexing precedent and serious ethical questions.
Do other high-ranking federal officials need to take notice and follow suit?
Will they be punished or disfavored if they don't throw a couple bucks Trump's way?
Is there some implicit understanding that Trump will favor those who pay?
Even if the answer to all of these questions is "no,"
the appearance itself is terrible; "we don't need no steekin appearances":;ol
The attorney general is supposed to be independent and stand above politics, but
Barr looks weak and sycophantic to Trump.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/04/opinions/pence-barr-money-trumps-pocket-honig/index.html?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_ content=link&ICID=ref_fark