You are only as good as the company you keep. Therefore, choose your friends wisely.
Candidate Trump boasted he’d surround himself with only the best people. Instead, he has appointees and advisers who have been accused of conflicts of interest, misuse of public funds, influence peddling, and self-enrichment. Some are under investigation, others have resigned and five have either been convicted or pleaded guilty to charges that include lying to government officials, fraud, conspiracy and campaign finance violations.
Trump’s longtime friend, Roger Stone, was indicted on five counts of lying to Congress, one count of obstruction and one count of witness tampering. Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., one of Trump’s most loyal supporters, was arrested on securities fraud charges.
Trump promised to drain the Washington swamp, but the water is rising. More than half of the president’s 20-person Cabinet has engaged in questionable or unethical conduct and the list of his jailbird friends will probably grow. The president lives in an ecosystem inhabited by lawbreakers and other ethically challenged people. So why was Trump surrounded by rogues? It wasn’t an accident. It’s a reflection of Trump’s own values.
So, here’s the elephant-in-the-jailhouse. Do birds of a feather flock together?
