So we all know how Trump hires the best people, right? Well apparently some of them are pretty confident Ambassador positions are for sale.
Possible pay-to-play scheme for ambassador role in Trump administration uncovered by CBS News
Interesting article, with a lot of key points of concern all along the way. So Doug Manchester donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund, along with the stated recommendation that he be the Ambassador to the Bahamas. He received his appointment one day into the Trump presidency. As bad as this is, it is actually not the central scandal (Despite being clear bribery).
The key problem came nearly two years later, with Manchester's appointment still stuck in committee, due to the fact that he was completely unqualified and unable to pass the vote on the Senate floor. During this stalemate, Ronna McDaniel (You should know the name, but RNC Committee Chair) asked Manchester for a small donation of $500,000. The reply Manchester sent was staggering in its blatancy.
So not only was this blatent bribery (Again), he made matters even more transparent by sending it to staffers from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Crazytown), and Sen. Jim Risch (R-Potatoland), the two senators controlling his nomination in committee.As you know I am not supposed to do any, but my wife is sending a contribution for $100,000. Assuming I get voted out of the [Foreign Relations Committee] on Wednesday to the floor we need you to have the majority leader bring it to a majority vote … Once confirmed, I our [sic] family will respond!
Faced with an obvious bribe, Rand Paul did nothing, but Jim Risch sent correspondence to the White House demanding that Manchester's nomination be withdrawn, which it was.
So we have a rather fascinating look here at how broken and corrupt every facet of the GOP establishment is. We all knew the White House would nominate you for anything if you give enough money, but the RNC committee seems totally ok with paying for expedited service, there is at least the impression that McDaniel would pressure McConnell for a floor vote for enough money, and Rand Paul seems to be on board with bribery as well.
Props to Risch for being the sole player in this mess that seems to acknowledge bribery as wrong. I guess he wins the prize for achieving the level of Basic Human Decency for the day.