Sen. Mike Lee's blockade of ethics chief could benefit Donald Trump...and Elon Musk

Sen. Mike Lee has been blocking the appointment of the government's top ethics chief for over a year, saying it should wait until after November's election. That could allow Trump to pick the next government ethics chief.

Last September, President Joe Biden nominated David Huitema to be the Office of Government Ethics director. The office enforces compliance with federal anti-corruption laws.

When Huitema's nomination came up for a vote on the Senate floor, Lee objected, saying he was worried the Biden administration was attempting to "weaponize" the Office of Government Ethics against Donald Trump.

During presidential transitions, the office vets new executive branch employees to ensure compliance with ethics laws. The position will likely remain vacant until a new presidential administration takes power.

During his first administration, Trump had several conflicts with Walter Shaub, who oversaw the office then.

Lee's obstruction could not only allow Trump to pick the person responsible for enforcing ethics laws, but it could massively benefit Elon Musk.

The Lever reports the Office of Government Ethics can offer significant tax breaks to any White House official who divests holdings because of a conflict of interest.

If Trump appoints SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk to a post in his administration, an idea both men have floated, the Office of Government Ethics may find itself overseeing conflicts of interest for the world’s richest man, whose companies hold billions in government contracts. As The Lever recently reported, a little-known provision in the tax code could allow Musk to receive a gargantuan tax break if he’s appointed to an official role in a second Trump administration and compelled to divest some of his holdings. 

Lee has not only been an ardent supporter of Trump but has also become an ally of Musk. Roll Call reports Lee and Musk have interacted on X/Twitter more than 40 times since August. Last week, Lee posted a picture of him and Musk together with a fawning caption calling Musk "an American hero."