Eric Lipton

I've been writing about the Trump family for a decade now, and I've been watching the conflicts of interest that emerge from the mixing of their personal businesses with the governance of the United States. And at the times, we're quite careful about the terms that we use. And what I'm seeing in this administration, without question, is conflicts of interest These are not apparent conflicts.

I've been writing about the Trump family for a decade now, and I've been watching the conflicts of interest that emerge from the mixing of their personal businesses with the governance of the United States. And at the times, we're quite careful about the terms that we use. And what I'm seeing in this administration, without question, is conflicts of interest These are not apparent conflicts.

These are real conflicts. I'm seeing ethics violations. I'm seeing, you know, unprecedented kind of breaking of norms in terms of these financial conflicts. But when you use the word corruption to me, you really need a quid pro quo, which is you need to take a gift. And then the action that comes as a result of that gift needs to be in response to that specific gift.

These are real conflicts. I'm seeing ethics violations. I'm seeing, you know, unprecedented kind of breaking of norms in terms of these financial conflicts. But when you use the word corruption to me, you really need a quid pro quo, which is you need to take a gift. And then the action that comes as a result of that gift needs to be in response to that specific gift.

And I think that there is the appearance of corruption and the governance is being corrupted. But whether or not President Trump is acting in a corrupt way.

And I think that there is the appearance of corruption and the governance is being corrupted. But whether or not President Trump is acting in a corrupt way.

I mean, I relate more to the terminology like around a bribe. A bribe is something when you take money and you respond to that bribe offer with that cash. You got to go full Menendez.

I mean, I relate more to the terminology like around a bribe. A bribe is something when you take money and you respond to that bribe offer with that cash. You got to go full Menendez.

I think the governance has been corrupted through this process. As to whether or not President Trump is acting corruptly, I'm observing and waiting for additional evidence. Agnostic. I'm interested, Susan, in what you think. Maybe you disagree. Susan, talk to me. Talk to me, Susan. This word corruption.

I think the governance has been corrupted through this process. As to whether or not President Trump is acting corruptly, I'm observing and waiting for additional evidence. Agnostic. I'm interested, Susan, in what you think. Maybe you disagree. Susan, talk to me. Talk to me, Susan. This word corruption.

Yeah, no.

Yeah, no.

Right, and was ultimately acquitted.

Right, and was ultimately acquitted.

Yeah, it is a really important question. I mean, first of all, the president is exempt under law from the criminal It's a crime and you could go to jail as a federal employee for taking an action that a particular action that impacts your family or yourself and your financial interest. And you could be charged by the Justice Department if the Justice Department were investigating that.

Yeah, it is a really important question. I mean, first of all, the president is exempt under law from the criminal It's a crime and you could go to jail as a federal employee for taking an action that a particular action that impacts your family or yourself and your financial interest. And you could be charged by the Justice Department if the Justice Department were investigating that.

The president and the vice president are exempt from that. So already – and this president has cited that frequently. I have no conflicts of interest. Legally – I can't. Right. But what the Supreme Court did last year, it opens a question as to whether or not the Justice Department could even charge the president with accepting a bribe because – If it's an official act, there is an open question.

The president and the vice president are exempt from that. So already – and this president has cited that frequently. I have no conflicts of interest. Legally – I can't. Right. But what the Supreme Court did last year, it opens a question as to whether or not the Justice Department could even charge the president with accepting a bribe because – If it's an official act, there is an open question.

There's a footnote in that decision, which leaves it slightly ambiguous as to whether or not actually in what the Supreme Court majority wrote, there's a footnote that leaves a bit unclear whether or not there's enough room still to charge a president with bribery.

There's a footnote in that decision, which leaves it slightly ambiguous as to whether or not actually in what the Supreme Court majority wrote, there's a footnote that leaves a bit unclear whether or not there's enough room still to charge a president with bribery.