YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GONE. YOU HAD GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT SHAME WAS EXTINCT, BUT WE
HAVE JUST TONIGHT STUMBLED UPON
EVIDENCE OF SHAME, IF NOT
ACCOUNTABILITY.
ACCOUNTABILITY. AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT OF SHAME
IN AMERICAN POLITICS.
IT’S SO UNFAMILIAR, IT FEELS
LIKE WE ARE COVERING SOMETHING
IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE, BUT I
SWEAR THIS REALLY HAPPENED
TODAY.
TODAY. KNOCK ME OVER WITH A FEATHER.
I SWEAR THIS HAPPENED.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER EARLY THIS
YEAR WE LEARNED THAT BEN CARSON,
WHO HAD BEEN A REPUBLICAN
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, HE RAN
AGAINST TRUMP IN THE PRIMARY AND
THEN HE ENDORSED TRUMP FOR
PRESIDENT AFTER HE DROPPED OUT
OF THE PRIMARIES, AND THEN TRUMP
NAMED BEN CARSON TO HIS CABINET,
NAMED HIM SECRETARY OF HUD,
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER EARLY THIS
YEAR WE LEARNED THAT BEN CARSON,
UPON MOVING INTO HUD AS THE HEAD
OF THAT NEW AGENCY, HE DECIDED
THAT HE NEEDED A $31,000 TABLE
FOR HIS OFFICE.
REMEMBER THAT?
REMEMBER THAT? IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A DINING
SET.
SET. I’M NOT CLEAR WHY YOU’D NEED A
DINING SET IN YOUR OFFICE IF HE
DINES IN HIS OFFICE?
I DON’T KNOW.
I DINE IN MY OFFICE, BUT I DO SO
OVER THE KEYBOARD,
UNFORTUNATELY.
UNFORTUNATELY. BUT BEN CARSON WANTED A $31,000
TABLE TO DINE.
THE WAY THAT WEIRD LITTLE
SCANDAL SHOOK OUT IS THAT A
CAREER OFFICIAL AT HUD TOLD BEN
CARSON THAT HE COULDN’T DO THAT.
SHE WAS LIKE, LISTEN, THERE IS A
DOLLAR LIMIT ON WHAT YOU CAN
SPEND TO RENOVATE YOUR OFFICE.
YOU’RE A PUBLIC SERVANT.
YOU’RE SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY.
IT’S LIKE A $5,000 LIMIT FOR YOU
DOING RENOVATIONS FOR YOUR WHOLE
OFFICE.
OFFICE. UNDER NO MATH COULD A $31,000
TABLE FIT UNDER THAT THRESHOLD
FOR RENOVATING YOUR OFFICE.
SO THIS CAREER OFFICIAL AT HUD
TOLD HIM NO, YOU CAN’T DO THAT.
YOU’RE A PUBLIC OFFICIAL NOW.
AND SO, OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAD TO
GET RID OF HER.
THEY GOT THAT CAREER OFFICIAL
RIGHT OUT OF THERE, AND THEY
BROUGHT IN SOMEONE MORE AMENABLE
TO THE WAYS AND DESIRES AND
FURNITURE TASTES OF THIS NEW
ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION. THEY BROUGHT IN SOMEONE WHO HAD
WORKED ON THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.
SHE’S A LAWYER.
I BELIEVE SHE IS FROM QUEENS.
SHE HAD NO RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
WHATSOEVER, BUT SHE’D WORKED ON
THE CAMPAIGN SO, THEY BROUGHT
HER IN.
HER IN. AND SHE TOOK A LOOK AT THAT
TABLE, AND THE WAY SHE SAW IT,
SHE ACTUALLY SAW THAT AS QUITE A
LEGITIMATE EXPENSE.
LEGITIMATE EXPENSE. SHE APPROVED IT.
IT’S NICE TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE
THAT YOU CAN BRING IN WHEN YOU
NEED THEM.
NEED THEM. AND TRUST ME, THERE ARE MANY
INSTANCES WHEN NEED A PERSON
LIKE THAT IN THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION. BEHOLD RYAN ZINKE.
RYAN ZINKE WAS A REPUBLICAN OF
CONGRESS BEFORE TRUMP NAMED HIM
TO RUN THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR.
INTERIOR. ONE GETS THE SENSE FROM MR. ZINC
ZINCY THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
THAT AS HIGH PROFILE.
HE RODE A HORSE TO WORK ON THE
FIRST DAY OF THE JOB.
HE USE FARE FUNDS TO STOP
TRAFFIC IN THAT ENTIRE PART OF
WASHINGTON, D.C. SO HE COULD
SHOW UP ON A HORSE, BECAUSE HE
THOUGHT
THOUGHT THOUGHT.
THOUGHT. ONCE HE DISMOUNTED AND MADE IT
INSIDE THE BUILDING, SECRETARY
SINKE WOULD V THAT A STAFF
MEMBER WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO RUN
TO THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING, TO
RUN THAT UP THE FLAG POLE
WHENEVER RYAN ZINKE WAS AT HIS
DESK.
DESK. SO EVERYBODY COULD TELL FROM A
DISTANCE OR MAYBE FROM A PASSING
PLANE THAT RYAN ZINKE WAS IN THE
HOUSE.
HOUSE. IT HAS BEEN A SORT OF HALLMARK
OF RYAN ZINKE’S POLITICAL CAREER
THAT HE HAS SOMETIMES OVERDONE
IT A LITTLE BIT WITH THE
VISUALS.
VISUALS. WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR
CONGRESS,INCH IRKED A LOT OF
HIS REPUBLICANS BY PUTTING THE
TRIDENT SIGN ON HIS CAMPAIGN BUS
WHICH SORT OF IMPLIED THAT THE
NAVY S.E.A.L.s WERE ENDORSING
HIM AND HIS CANDIDACY.
THAT WAS FURTHER COMPLICATED
THAT IT ONLY EMERGED AFTER TRUMP
NOMINATED HIM FOR THIS CABINET
JOB, THAT WHAT ACTUALLY DERAILED
RYAN ZINKE’S CAREER IN THE NAVY
IS THAT HE GOT IN TROUBLE DURING
HIS TIME IN THE SERVICE.
HE GOT IN TROUBLE SPECIFICALLY
FOR CHISELING THE GOVERNMENT ON
HIS TRAVEL EXPENSES.
WHICH PERHAPS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A
LITTLE BIT MORE OF A RED FLAG
THAN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
WAS PREPARED TO NOTICE WHEN THEY
NOMINATED HIM FOR CABINET.
BUT THEY NOMINATED HIM AND HE
GOT THROUGH.
GOT THROUGH. AND SINCE RYAN ZINKE GOT THAT
JOB AT THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT,
HE HAS HAD TAXPAYERS PAY FOR A
PRIVATE JET FLIGHT ON AN
AIRCRAFT OWNED BY AN EXECUTIVE
FROM AN OIL AND GAS COMPANY IN
WYOMING AFTER HE GAVE A
MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH IN LAS VEGAS
TO A HOCKEY TEAM OWNED BY ONE OF
HIS BIGGEST CAMPAIGN DONORS, HE
TOOK THAT PRIVATE JET RIDE FROM
LAS VEGAS BACK TO HIS HOUSE IN
MONTANA.
MONTANA. HE’S ALSO CHARGED TAXPAYERS TO
PAY FOR HIS PRIVATE JET FLIGHTS
TO REPUBLICAN FUNDRAISERS.
AND THEN THERE IS THE
MULTIPRIVATE JET FLIGHTS HE
CHARGED TO U.S. TAXPAYERS FOR
FLIGHTS TO AND AROUND THE U.S.
VIRGIN ISLANDS, INCLUDING FOR
WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A SUPER AWESOME
SNORKELING TOUR.
SNORKELING TOUR. TAXPAYERS PAID TO FLY HIM TO
THAT ON A CHARTERED JET.
ULTIMATELY, TRUMP HEALTH
SECRETARY TOM PRICE, WHO HAD TO
RESIGN IN DISGRACE, AND THEN
TRUMP’S EPA ADMINISTRATOR SCOTT
PRUITT, WHO HAD TO RESIGN IN
DISGRACE, THEY’VE SORT OF GOTTEN
ALL THE GLORY FOR BEING THE MOST
FLAMBOYANTLY UNSUSTAINABLY
FLAMBOYANTLY UNSUSTAINABLY CORRUPT MEMBERS OF THE TRUMP
CABINET.
CABINET. BUT RYAN ZINKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A
CONTENDER.
CONTENDER. DO NOT COUNT HIM OUT.
HIS BEHAVIOR IN OFFICE LED
ULTIMATELY TO THE INDEPENDENT
INSPECTOR GENERAL AT THE
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT STARTING
FOUR DIFFERENT SIMULTANEOUSLY
ETHICS INVESTIGATIONS INTO
ZINKE’S BEHAVIOR SINCE HE’S BEEN
RUNNING THAT AGENCY.
NOW IF YOU’RE THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, THAT JUST SEEMS
LIKE A TERRIBLE IDEA, RIGHT?
AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF
RYAN ZINKE?
RYAN ZINKE? WHY WOULD WE ALLOW THAT?
WHY ARE WE ALLOWING THAT?
WHY WOULD WE LET THAT GO
FORWARD?
FORWARD? HEY, WHERE IS THE DINING SET
LADY?
LADY? WHAT’S SHE DOING NOW?
COULDN’T WE GET HER TO FIX THIS
TOO?
TOO? THAT IS LITERALLY WHAT THEY
TRIED TO DO.
TWO DAYS AGO, "THE HILL"
NEWSPAPER WAS FIRST TO REPORT ON
AN E-MAIL FROM HUD DINING SET
SECRETARY BEN CARSON
CONGRATULATING THIS WOMAN, WHO
HAD WORKED ON THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN
AND WHO WORKED IN CARSON’S
OFFICE.
OFFICE. THE E-MAIL WAS CONGRATULATING
HER ON HER GRADUATING FROM BEN
CARSON’S OFFICE AT HUD, WHICH IS
WHERE SHE APPROVED THE DINING
SET.
SET. HE WAS SENDING THIS E-MAIL TO
LET EVERYBODY IN THE AGENCY KNOW
THAT SHE WAS ON HER WAY OUT
BECAUSE SHE WAS MOVING UP,
BECAUSE SHE WAS GETTING WHAT IS
ACTUALLY A REALLY SERIOUS AND
PRESTIGIOUS JOB.
PRESTIGIOUS JOB. BEN CARSON’S E-MAIL, AGAIN,
FIRST REPORTED TWO DAYS AGO
ANNOUNCED THAT THIS WOMAN FROM
HIS OFFICE WOULD NOW BE LEAVING
HUD, AND SHE WOULD BE MOVING
OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR TO BECOME THE
INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR GENERAL OF
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
WOW.
WOW. THAT IS A BIG PROMOTION.
NOW, THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY A FEW
LITTLE PROBLEMS WITH THE IDEA OF
THIS PERSON BECOMING THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL AT RYAN
ZINKE’S AGENCY.
ZINKE’S AGENCY. NUMBER ONE, SHE’S THE DINING SET
PERSON.
PERSON. SHE REALLY IS THE PERSON WHO WAS
BROUGHT IN TO EXCUSE BEN
CARSON’S $31,000 TABLE AND THE
CORRUPTION AND ETHICS AND WASTE
PROBLEMS THEREIN.
PROBLEMS THEREIN. THAT’S NOT A GREAT BACKGROUND
FOR AN INSPECTOR GENERAL WHOSE
SUPPOSED TO FERRET THAT KIND OF
STUFF OUT.
STUFF OUT. NUMBER TWO, SHE HAS ABSOLUTELY
ZERO EXPERIENCE IN ANYTHING
RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR.
INTERIOR. MORE IMPORTANTLY, NUMBER THREE,
SHE HAS ABSOLUTELY ZERO
EXPERIENCE WHEN IT COMES TO
INVESTIGATIONS OF ANY KIND.
SO DID YOU SAY THERE ARE FOUR
ACTIVE SIMULTANEOUS ETHICS
INVESTIGATIONS INTO RYAN ZINKE?
WELL, THIS PERSON WILL BE
PERFECT.
PERFECT. BRING HER IN!
SO BEN CARSON MAKES THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT TO HIS STAFF, WE’RE
SO SORRY TO SEE YOU GO, YOU’LL
BE GREAT AT YOUR INSPECTOR
GENERAL JOB AT THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT.
DEPARTMENT. CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS. MEANWHILE, THE ACTUAL INSPECTOR
GENERAL AT THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT, THE ONE WHOSE DOING
THESE FOUR SIMULTANEOUS
INVESTIGATIONS OF ZINKE, SHE
LEARNS ABOUT THIS WHEN A
COLLEAGUE SHOWS HER BEN CARSON’S
E-MAIL.
E-MAIL. THAT’S HOW SHE LEARNS THE NEWS
THAT SOMEBODY NEW IS APPARENTLY
COMING ON OVER TO TAKE HER JOB.
TO HER CREDIT, SHE BASICALLY
REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT
WAS ANY REAL INDICATION THAT SHE
HAD BEEN FIRED.
SHE CONTINUED ON, WAITING TO
ACTUALLY HEAR OFFICIALLY THAT
SHE WAS OUT OF A JOB.
BUT FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS,
WHERE IT LOOKED LIKE THIS WAS
GOING WAS THAT THE U.S. FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT UNDER THIS PRESIDENT
WAS GOING TO HIT YET ANOTHER NEW
LOW, RIGHT?
LOW, RIGHT? WHEN IT COMES TO THE TOLERANCE
OF AND EVEN THE CELEBRATION OF
JUST RANK CORRUPTION, RIGHT?
WE’VE GOT A EXPERIENCED
INSPECTOR GENERAL RUNNING FOUR
INVESTIGATIONS INTO A TRUMP
CABINET SECRETARY.
CABINET SECRETARY. SHE IS GOING TO GET FIRED.
SHE IS GOING TO BE REPLACE BY
SOMEONE WITH NO EXPERIENCE
WHATSOEVER EXCEPT FOR THIS
PERSON HAS WORKED FOR TRUMP
CAMPAIGN AND HELPED THEM COVER
UP ETHICS SCANDALS BEFORE.
FOR THE LAST COUPLE DAY, THAT
LOOKED LIKE THIS WAS WHERE THIS
WAS DEFINITELY HEADING.
BUT THEN, BUT THEN SHAME WOKE
UP.
UP. DEMOCRATS ON THE COMMITTEE IN
CONGRESS THAT OVERSEES THE
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT, THEY WROTE
TO ONE IS BASICALLY THE
ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS
GENERAL IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.
THE REASON AN ASSOCIATION LIKE
THAT EXISTS IS BECAUSE BEING
INSPECTOR GENERAL AT A CABINET
LEVEL AGENCY, IT’S A BIG DEAL.
INSPECTORS GENERAL HAVE A LOT OF
POWER.
POWER. IT’S A VERY SERIOUS JOB.
IT’S A JOB FOR WHICH
INDEPENDENTS AND PROFESSIONALISM
ARE SEEN AS ABSOLUTELY
PARAMOUNT.
PARAMOUNT. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, TO A
CERTAIN EXTENT, THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL COMMUNITY THAT.
>> KIND OF SELF-POLICE.
THEY HAVE AN ASSOCIATION.
THEY TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE
IMPORTANT, SENSITIVE INSPECTOR
GENERAL JOBS ONLY GO TO PEOPLE
WHO ARE CAPABLE OF DOING THAT
KIND OF WORK, WHO HAVE RELEVANT
EXPERIENCE, AND WHO CAN DO THAT
WORK WITH UNIMPEACHABLE
INTEGRITY.
INTEGRITY. SO THE DEMOCRATS, IT OCCURS TO
THEM, HEY, MAYBE WE SHOULD WRITE
TO THE ASSOCIATIONS OF
INSPECTORS GENERAL AND SAY HEY,
THE DINING ROOM SET FROM BEN
CARSON’S OFFICE, REALLY?
SHE IS GOING TO BE AN INSPECTOR
GENERAL NOW FOR A CABINET
AGENCY?
AGENCY? THAT’S NOT HOW THEY PUT IT.
THEY PUT IT THIS WAY.
QUOTE, THE MERE THREAT OF
REPLACING AN INSPECTOR GENERAL
WHEN THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY IT
OVERSEES IS UNDER HEAVY SCRUTINY
WILL SEND A SIGNAL TO CURRENT
AND FUTURE IGs THROUGHOUT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT RELEASE
UNFAVORABLE FINDINGS MAY
THREATEN THEIR JOB.
QUOTE, IT CREATES A PERMANENT
DISINCENTIVE FOR THE CANDOR
REQUIRED FOR AN EFFECTIVE IG AND
SEVERS THE INDEPENDENCE THAT IS
THE FOUNDATION OF EFFECTIVE
OVERSIGHT OVER GOVERNMENT WASTE,
FRAUD AND ABUSE.
SO THEY SEND THAT OFF.
I KNOW YOU’RE THINKING AT THIS
POINT, AWE, DEMOCRATS.
THAT’S CUTE, RIGHT?
YOU’RE IN THE MINORITY OF THE
HOUSE WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE NO
POWER.
POWER. REPUBLICANS CLEARLY DO NOT CARE
ABOUT THIS WHEN IT’S A
REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION DOING
IT.
IT. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION GETS
AWAY WITH STUFF LIKE THIS AND
WORSE ON A DAILY BASIS, RIGHT?
UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION,
THEY HAVE VERY QUICKLY
COMPLETELY DEGRADED ANY IDEAS OR
EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT
CORRUPTION AND ABUSE AND
NEPOTISM AND CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST.
INTEREST. SO, YOU KNOW, WHY BOTHER?
WELL, YOU BOTHER BECAUSE
SOMETIMES IT WORKS.
AND IN THIS CASE, LO AND BEHOLD,
SHAME MAKES AN APPEARANCE.
IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
I MEAN KIND OF.
THEY’RE NOT, OF COURSE,
SHAME-FACEDLY ADMITTING WHAT
THEY WERE TRYING TO GET AWAY
WITH HERE.
WITH HERE. BUT THEY DID GET CAUGHT HERE.
THEY GOT CONFRONTED ABOUT IT,
AND NOW THEY HAVE ENDED UP
CLIMBING DOWN.
CLIMBING DOWN. YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN THIS
HEADLINE IN "THE WASHINGTON
POST" TODAY.
POST" TODAY. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DOES
ABOUT-FACE ON ITS OWN
ANNOUNCEMENT THAT TOP AIDE AT
HUD WOULD BE INTERIOR’S
WATCHDOG.
WATCHDOG. THAT’S A LOT OF WORDS, BUT IT
MEANS THEY GAVE UP ON THIS
SCHEME.
SCHEME. THE WAY THEY HAVE DECIDED TO GET
OUT OF THIS, TO CLIMB DOWN FROM
THIS IS ZINKE’S OFFICE TELLING
REPORTERS THAT THIS WAS NEVER
THE PLAN.
THE PLAN. WE DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE
TALKING ABOUT.
TALKING ABOUT. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS THE
PLAN?
PLAN? OH, THAT BEN CARSON E-MAIL THAT
SAID THIS WAS THE PLAN?
THAT WAS JUST BEN CARSON
SCREWING UP.
SCREWING UP. ZINKE’S OFFICE PUT OUT AN E-MAIL
TODAY THE E-MAIL FROM BEN
CARSON’S OFFICE WAS, QUOTE, 100%
FALSE INFORMATION WHEN HE SAID
THIS WOMAN WAS GOING TO BECOME
INSPECTOR GENERAL.
INSPECTOR GENERAL. THING IS WHAT SHAME LOOKS LIKE
FROM THESE GUYS.
STILL, PICK A FIGHT ABOUT IT.
BLAME SOMEONE ELSE.
PRETEND TO STILL BE ON OFFENSE.
BUT WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO
PULL OFF WITH THIS INSPECTOR
GENERAL SWITCHEROO, THEY’RE NOW
NOT DOING IT.
SO TO THE DEMOCRATS WHO PUSHED
ON THIS, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE
RARE EXAMPLES THAT SHOWS THAT
FIGHTING OVER THE STUFF
SOMETIMES WORKS.
SOMETIMES WORKS. YOU CAN’T WIN IF YOU DON’T PLAY.
RIGHT?
RIGHT? EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS FUTILE.
I UNDERSTAND WHY IT SOMETIMES
SEEMS FUTILE.
SEEMS FUTILE. WE ARE IN A NEW ERA WHERE THE
PRESIDENT IS RETAINING HIS
PRIVATE BUSINESS INTERESTS AND
KEEPING ALL OF HIS FINANCES
SECRET, AND HE IS GIVING SENIOR
JOBS TO HIS KIDS, AND HE HAS
HIRED CABINET OFFICIALS AND
SENIOR REGULATORY ADVISERS WHO
CAME INTO GOVERNMENT SERVICE AND
IMMEDIATELY STARTED MAKING
POLICY TO BENEFIT THEIR OWN
BUSINESS INTERESTS WHICH THEY
THEN LIED ABOUT.
I MEAN, IT’S EXHAUSTING, RIGHT?
IMAGINE ANY OTHER TIME IN U.S.
HISTORY WHEN WE WOULD BE HEADING
INTO A CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION
WHILE THE PRESIDENT’S CAMPAIGN
CHAIR, DEPUTY CAMPAIGN CHAIR,
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, AND
LONG-TIME PERSONAL LAWYER ARE
ALL GOING TO PRISON.
THEY’RE ALL AWAITING SENTENCING,
EVEN BEFORE THIS PRESIDENCY MADE
IT TO ITS FIRST MIDTERM
ELECTION.
ELECTION. WE’VE NEVER BEEN IN THIS DIRE A
PLACE IN TERMS OF ETHICS AND
CRIMINALITY, AND I’M INCLUDING
WATERGATE AND TEAPOT DOME AND
EVERYTHING ELSE YOU CAN IMAGINE.
BUT WHAT DO WE AS CITIZENS DO
ABOUT IT?
ABOUT IT? AND WHAT DO WE WANT OUR PUBLIC
OFFICIALS TO DO ABOUT IT?
THE SOLUTION CAN’T BE TO JUST
LOWER THE BAR, GIVE UP YOUR
EXPECTATIONS, THROW YOUR HANDS
UP AND ACCEPT, OKAY, THIS IS HOW
CORRUPT AMERICA IS NOW.
I MEAN, UNLESS WE WANT TO GO
DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE
GENERATION THAT SAID IT’S OKAY
FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
BECOME QUICKLY MORE WILDLY AND
FLAGRANTLY CORRUPT THAN IT HAS
EVER BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE
OUR FOUNDING, IF WE DON’T WANT
TO BE THE GENERATION THAT
DECIDED THAT WAS COOL AND WE
WEREN’T GOING TO PEEP ABOUT IT,
THAT MEANS YOU DO HAVE TO FIGHT
ABOUT IT WHEN YOU FIND OUT ABOUT
CORRUPTION.
CORRUPTION. EVEN WHEN YOU FIND OUT ABOUT
SOME NEW ELEMENT OF IT EVERY
DAY.
DAY. YOU HAVE TO CRY FOUL.
YOU HAVE TO DENOUNCE IT AND PUT
UP A FIGHT.
NOT BECAUSE YOU’RE GOING WIN
EVERY TIME.
EVERY TIME. YOU WON’T.
YOU WON’T. BAURKSZ A, WE
BUT BECAUSE, A, WE ALL HAVE TO
ANSWER AT SOME POINT IN OUR
LIVES.
LIVES. AND YOU ARE COMPLICIT IF YOU
DON’T SAY ANYTHING.
AND B, MORE PRACTICALLY, IF YOU
DO CHOOSE TO FIGHT, EVERY ONCE
IN A WHILE YOU MIGHT WIN.
AND SO TONIGHT THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL’S OFFICE AT THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS STILL
INTACT, THEY HAVE STARTED TO
RELEASE SOME OF THEIR FINDINGS
ON RYAN ZINKE AND HIS WIFE AND
THEIR TAXPAYER-FUNDED TRAVEL
ARRANGEMENTS.
ARRANGEMENTS. THERE ARE STILL MULTIPLE
INVESTIGATIONS UNDER WAY.
APPARENTLY THAT INSPECTOR