Timing of Trump nominees' donations breaks with norms, experts say
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Two of President Trump's long-stalled nominees wrote six-figure checks to the Republican National Committee in the middle of their confirmation processes, according to federal fundraising records.
Why it matters: Political appointees are often party loyalists. But making donations during the confirmation process is unusual, a Senate insider and an expert on government ethics told Axios.
- While such contributions are legally permitted, the donations — from Trump's nominee for a top Energy Department post, and his pick to serve as ambassador to the Netherlands — represent another departure from traditional Washington norms.
Driving the news: The timing of the two contributions to the RNC should "raise some eyebrows" in Washington, Kathleen Clark, a Washington University law professor who works in the area of legal and government ethics, told Axios.
- One longtime Senate insider described the contributions as odd, pointing out that usually donations from nominees are made during the previous campaign cycle — so in the run up to the 2024 presidential election in this case — instead of during the confirmation process.
- The person was granted anonymity to talk candidly about Senate protocols.
State of play: Audrey Robertson, a former oil and gas executive tapped to lead DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs, donated $100,000 to the RNC on July 29, according to FEC filings. Before that, she had lifetime donations totaling just over $6,000.
- Mega-GOP donor Joe Popolo and his wife also donated a combined $100,000 to the RNC over the summer as his nomination stalled in the Senate. Popolo is Trump's nominee for ambassador to the Netherlands.
- Guidance from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics tells nominees for Senate-confirmed positions to "remove risks that could have serious impacts on the public trust ... including appearances of conflicts of interest."
- "We look for coincidences in time and out-of-the-blue donations," Clark said.
What they're saying: Popolo told Axios in a statement: "As 15-year RNC donors we are gratified to continue to our longstanding support for the RNC's critical mission of advancing freedom and opportunity."
- RNC Communications Director Zach Parkinson said in a statement that the RNC did not solicit a contribution from Robertson and that Popolo's record of contributions "long predates his nomination."
- "The RNC rigorously follows all campaign finance laws, and under federal law, individuals nominated to serve as ambassadors are permitted to make personal contributions to candidates and political committees," Parkinson said.
- The Department of Energy did not respond to a request for comment on the timing of Robertson's donation. She resigned her position on the board of directors of Liberty Energy in August to join DOE, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Zoom out: It's common for presidents to fill about one-third of their ambassadorships with political appointees, usually donors.
- Both Trump and former President Biden had a higher share of political appointees in ambassador jobs than recent administrations, according to data from the American Foreign Service Association.
The other side: Democrats are pointing to the donations to try to bolster their overall complaints about Trump nominees.
- Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) told Axios that lawmakers should be "doing a deep dive to see how many other nominees have paid money as their nomination is moving through the Senate process."
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told Axios: "Now more than ever, we need transparency and guardrails around these nominee donations," pointing to an anti-corruption bill she has introduced.
What's next: The Senate GOP will likely soon confirm Robertson, Popolo and more than 100 other nominees with one vote after Republicans this month changed chamber rules to allow action on large blocs of nominees.
- Republicans triggered their "nuclear" option after Senate Democrats placed unprecedented widespread holds on Trump nominees, slowing the confirmation process for hundreds of positions.
