Corruption and Conflict of Interest

Citizens United changed federal campaign-finance rules and accelerated outside-spending arms races.

The Church Committee exposed domestic spying and covert abuses that crossed administrations.

The financial crisis inflicted mass household damage and weakened trust in markets, regulators, and elite accountability.

Watergate exposed campaign espionage, executive obstruction, and a presidential cover-up that ended in resignation.

Mass firing of inspectors general weakens anticorruption and accountability systems.

National donor money helped reshape low-salience local DA races, raising accountability concerns.

Monetizing political power through family business and crypto ventures creates severe conflict-of-interest and corruption perceptions.

A convicted president damages trust, but the conviction itself is not an abuse of presidential power.