Donald Sherman, president and CEO of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew), has sharply criticized the current administration, accusing it of fostering a pervasive “pay-to-play environment” that undermines governmental integrity. Sherman, a longtime ethics lawyer with experience on Capitol Hill and within the Biden White House, alleges that the lines between former President Donald Trump’s private business interests and his presidency have been blurred to an unprecedented degree.
Crew, a non-profit watchdog organization co-founded in 2003 and staffed largely by lawyers, has focused on exposing what it views as corruption within the federal government. Sherman argues that Trump’s tenure has been marked by widespread conflicts of interest, citing significant financial gains amid his time in office. According to Forbes, Trump’s net worth recently reached $7 billion, partly driven by profits in the cryptocurrency sector—a field his administration actively promoted—alongside earnings from real estate and leisure enterprises.
One instance cited by Sherman involves a $500 million investment from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Trump family’s crypto business, finalized days before Trump’s inauguration. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, a senior Emirati official, led the deal. Critics have connected a subsequent AI technology agreement between the US and the UAE to this financial relationship, suggesting possible quid pro quo arrangements. Sherman describes this as a potential violation of the foreign emoluments clause of the US Constitution, which prohibits presidents from accepting gifts or benefits without congressional consent. Additionally, the $400 million jet gifted by Qatar to the administration, classified as a military gift rather than a personal one, has drawn scrutiny for sidestepping constitutional procedures.
Sherman also condemns various promises made by Trump during the 2026 midterm campaign, notably an offer of $5,000 to every American adult contingent on Republican control of Congress, calling it “bribe-like.” He asserts that Trump surpasses previous administrations, including Richard Nixon’s Watergate era, in levels of alleged corruption.
The watchdog group has pursued multiple legal actions related to ethics and governance. Crew successfully challenged the removal of an insurrectionist officeholder in New Mexico following the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot and won a similar case in Colorado against Trump that was later reversed at the federal level. Currently, the organization is contesting the legality of “Truth API,” a paid early-access service to market-sensitive communications issued via Trump’s privately owned social media platform, Truth Social.
Sherman holds Congress accountable as well, particularly the Republican majorities that controlled both chambers until the recent midterm elections. He posits that congressional inaction and the firing of various ethics watchdog officials during Trump’s administration have eroded institutional checks on executive power. Sherman points to the dismantling of enforcement mechanisms, including the dismissal of the heads of the Office of Government Ethics and 17 inspectors general, as evidence of a diminished system of oversight.
Corporate America, Sherman claims, has largely acquiesced to or facilitated these practices. Crew identified major companies such as Meta, Amazon, Coinbase, and Google as financial supporters of Trump’s projects, labeling their involvement a cost-of-business decision. He warns that such companies might face heightened legal and regulatory risks if Democrats regain congressional control.
Responding to the allegations, the White House denied any conflicts of interest on Trump’s part and characterized Crew as partisan and anti-Republican. It asserted that Trump’s financial affairs were managed at arm’s length and insisted the former president acted in the public’s best interests.
Amid this contentious landscape, Sherman acknowledges Trump’s broad popular appeal, attributing it in part to widespread dissatisfaction with traditional political institutions. He warns, however, that the erosion of ethical norms and the rule of law poses serious risks to American democracy and civil discourse. Sherman has also noted a rise in threats against election volunteers, which he sees as symptomatic of deeper political tensions exacerbated by disputes over election legitimacy.
Crew’s funding derives from a mix of progressive foundations and grassroots donors. Sherman credits early mentors—his public school teacher mother and the late Congressman Elijah Cummings—with shaping his commitment to public service and democratic principles.
The ongoing debate over ethics and governance highlights the challenges of balancing private interests and public office in the United States as the country navigates a polarized political climate.