Speaking at a Republican political event held at Trump Tower (as sickening as that sounds already), Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a sorry attempt at normalizing President Trump’s emoluments clause violations by addressing it as a joke. It was very clear what the Secretary of State was trying to convey with his “joke” and that is, that he and his fellow Republicans think concerns about corruption/self-dealing by Trump are all a big joke being peddled by the media–in this case the Washington Post which he specifically referred to.

Specifically, Pompeo jockingly said, “I look around. This is such a beautiful hotel. The guy who owns it must have been successful somewhere along the way.” He then looked up and added, “That was for the Washington Post.” There’s no other way to read Sec Pompeo’s “joke” other than an effort to characterize Trump’s emoluments clause violations as a non consequential matter that only the media cares about. We’ve heard similar arguments from Trump and his son Don,Jr who routinely dismiss important questions with the refrain, “only the fake media cares about that.”

One has to admit that that it is very troubling to hear someone like Sec Pompeo who whether you agree with his politics or not, is incredibly well regarded in Washington by both Democrats and Republicans, seemingly excusing corruption. The fact that he too appears to have been wholly swallowed by the corruption cesspit that is the Trump administration, that he feels very comfortable normalizing such behavior, should be sending alarm bells everywhere.

You’ll also remember that after Vice President Mike Pence’s recent visit to Ireland that caused a huge emoluments clause scandal, Sen Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent Sec Pompeo a sternly-worded letter asking him to explain the extent of his State Department’s involvement in VP Pence’s decision to stay at Trump’s Irish resort. Sec Pompeo therefore, should be the last person joking about emoluments clause violations.

Bottom line folks, as Yours Truly has repeatedly stated before, the brazen corruption of the Trump administration is not normal and the only way we can prevent him and his cronies from normalizing it is if we scream about it. We must not allow Sec Pompeo or anyone else for that matter, to normalize Trump’s corruption and Yours Truly sincerely hopes congressional Democrats and the mainstream media will severely call him out for his “joke” about public corruption. Simply put folks, there’s nothing funny about public corruption and if Sec Pompeo doesn’t get it then he definitely needs to get out of public service.

For those of you very happy with @Emolclause’s activism don’t shy away from the “tip jar” below on your way out.

You may reach the author via email at author@grassrootsdempolitics.com or author@emolumentsclause.com