DEMS/ELECTION/ETHICS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Democrats plan to hammer the corruption allegations swirling around the Trump administration in the run up to the midterms, hoping to tap into a successful strategy that delivered them control of Congress in 2006. Democratic leaders will roll out the latest plank of their messaging platform Monday [5-21-18], focusing on a package of anti-corruption bills they say would directly target ‘pay-to-play’ accusations linked to the White House — and some of the most controversial players in President Donald Trump’s orbit — if enacted…The anti-corruption plank will focus on three key areas, according to a Democratic official who briefed POLITICO: overhauling campaign finance rules, tightening current ethics laws and strengthening voting laws by cracking down on discrimination at the polls and gerrymandering…Several current and former members of the Trump administration and the president’s broader universe have been embroiled in scandal, from EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen. One proposal to be unveiled Monday afternoon would target Cohen directly by beefing up lobbying laws Democrats say the president’s lawyer was able to skirt as he privately solicited more than $2 million from companies for ‘insights’ into the administration.”
-Heather Caygle, “Democrats take aim at Trump scandals in midterm message,” Politico, May 21, 2018 9:23 am