Donald Trump’s failed gag order
At the closing end of a St. Patty’s day weekend, teetering on the edge a Constitutional crisis, The Washington Post dropped yet another bombshell report. On Sunday we learned the Trump White House forced its senior staff to sign nondisclosure agreements as a condition of their employment. According to a former White House source, who provided a draft copy of the agreement, the details appear similar to those outlined in previous agreements signed by Trump campaign members, as previously reported by Buzzfeed and Politico in 2016.
According to the draft, the gag order was intended to last well beyond the end of the Trump presidency. Employees were threatened with financial penalties of $10 million, payable to the federal government, for each and any unauthorized revelation of “confidential” information, which restricted their communications with the press and employees of federal, state and local governments.
Never in history has an American president attempted to stifle his administration’s First Amendment rights, nor is such a contract legal. Administration employees have already pledged to uphold the Republic. These NDAs violate numerous federal laws, including federal whistleblower protection rights.
While the nation reels in suspense awaiting Stormy Daniels’ 60 Minutes big reveal, we dread yet another bombastic presidential Tweet disparaging Robert Mueller. Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrates his “re-election” as cyberterrorists threaten our nation’s power grid. Trump continues to vilify Hillary Clinton, Democrats, the Trump-Russia investigation and Andrew McCabe, yet never Tweets or speaks a disparaging word about the leader of our most dangerous adversary. It’s as if Trump himself is being extorted to keep quiet.
Gina Bradbury is a freelance writer with 20 years experience working in both the federal government and private sector. She is active in grassroots advocacy for progressive policy.