Norman Eisen and Richard Painter are ethics lawyers. They have worked for administrations from both parties.
The two lawyers were not asked to speak out on any of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees. But they felt, given their years of experience and knowledge of ethics, that they should express their very strong opinion on one nominee.
The ethics experts wrote an opinion piece for The Hill which addresses their significant concerns about Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Education.
They write that there are serious issues relating to the ethical complications facing Betsy DeVos. In their words:
“Seldom have we seen a worse cabinet-level ethics mess than that presented by Betsy DeVos, President Trump’s choice for education secretary.
Her extensive financial holdings present significant—and unresolved—conflict of interest issues. She also failed to provide the Senate with accurate information about her involvement with outside organizations. We have regretfully come to the conclusion that these concerns disqualify DeVos for that cabinet position.”
Neither of these two men is simply opposed to President Trump. They did not come to their position lightly.
However, Ms. DeVos has insisted on maintaining her business connections even if she is confirmed to her government post. For example, she holds somewhere between five and 25 million dollars in a company called “Neurocore.” This business claims to use “EEG Feedback” to treat everything from migraines to anxiety to Attention Deficit Disorder. The company is listed on a website called “Windquest.” That happens to be an investment corporation that is owned by DeVos and her husband.
Obviously, say the two ethics experts, it is a conflict of interest for the leader of Public Education in the United States to own a company that profits from a treatment for issues that effect millions of students. How could DeVos claim that none of her decisions about education would be impacted by the potential for her family to earn millions?
Eisen and Painter also say that they are very concerned that DeVos has failed to provide information about many of her financial holding, even though they were requested by the Senate. They state that this alone would disqualify her from serving.
Finally, the lawyers write that DeVos has failed to give any credible explanation for the role that she’s played in the Prince Foundation. This foundation was created by her parents, and she is listed on tax forms as its Vice President. Their concern is that the foundation is known for its extreme right wing, religious views. They are supporters of the horrific “gay conversion therapy.”
Ms. DeVos hasn’t been able to explain how she plans to separate herself from this extremely controversial practice, or from the Foundation that supports it.
These two lawyers have come out strongly against the confirmation of Betsy DeVos. They did so not because of her complete lack of experience in the field of public education, but because she has totally failed to comply with the most basic ethics requirements.
If you are living in a state with a Republican Senator, please call right away. Please, please demand that this woman’s nomination to such an important post be blocked.
Featured image via YouTube Screengrab.
