The Latest Breaking News from Richard Painter

Trump’s new press secretary faces scrutiny over claims to be a lawyer

Katie Zacharia describes herself as a lawyer but no public record shows she has been licensed in the US states where she resided

The Guardian - US · Oct 14

‘Using the presidency to line his pockets’: could claims of corruption fuel backlash against Trump?

Experts say president is vulnerable amid discontent over rising prices

The Guardian - US · Oct 6

Trump's taxpayer-funded ads face bipartisan backlash, legal questions before midterms

Taxpayer-funded television ads featuring President Donald Trump are under scrutiny for potential legal violations. Critics from both parties argue that public funds should not promote political figures. The advertisement campaign has led to questions surrounding its alignment with the Hatch Act regulations. Trump's portrayal of American exceptionalism is evident in…

The Economic Times · Sep 29

Ex-White House Lawyer Says Trump May be Impeached After Gifting $45,000 to Natalie Harp and Aides

Trump's cash gifts to aides have sparked a dispute over a 1962 law that bans federal workers from receiving extra pay from outside sources. Here's what the law covers and the penalties it can bring.

International Business Times UK · Sep 10

Natalie Harp Wasn't Alone: Trump Gave Three Aides $45,000 Each, and an Ethics Lawyer Cries Impeachment

Donald Trump gave three White House aides $45,000 each and a fourth $20,000, and a former ethics lawyer says the cash could break federal law and invite impeachment.

International Business Times UK · Sep 10

White House defends Trump’s $45,000 gifts to Natalie Harp and others

Harp’s relationship with Trump has recently been under scrutiny after it was revealed that she was in the catering truck with the president during his secret plane swap in July

The Independent UK · Sep 9

Trump Gave Natalie Harp and Other Aides $45,000 Each As Gifts. White House Denies Any Ethics Violation.

The payments, disclosed in filings made public late last week, have drawn scrutiny because federal law restricts the supplementation of government salaries from outside sources.

International Business Times · Sep 9

Trump gave Natalie Harp and two other White House aides $45,000 each in cash gifts for holidays, new financial disclosure statements reveal

That's nearly one-third of their annual salary.

We Got This Covered · Sep 9

Santa signed the cheque: Trump's $45,000 Christmas gifts to four White House aides draw ethics scrutiny

President Donald Trump gave substantial cash gifts to four White House aides last year. Three aides received $45,000 each, while a fourth received $20,000. These payments are equivalent to a significant portion of their annual salaries. Legal experts are examining these gifts under a federal statute concerning supplemental compensation. The…

The Economic Times · Sep 9

Trump May Have Broken Federal Law by Giving Natalie Harp, Two Other Female Aides $45,000 Each, Ethics Expert Says

Donald Trump's $45,000 holiday gifts to White House aides may violate federal law, raising questions about whether they count as salary supplements.

International Business Times UK · Sep 9