Transparency and Accountability in Government

Last week in the Oval Office, President Trump was asked by a reporter about the attention given to a couple at a Coldplay concert compared to details surrounding the assassination of Thomas Crook in Butler, Pennsylvania, which occurred over a year ago. This was right after their extramarital affairs became public.

Despite extensive investigations and countless hours of footage, the public remains largely uninformed about the assassin—his motives, how he accessed a nearby rooftop, and even the remote bombs he constructed, which he had never previously used.

Trump expressed a belief in the FBI’s assurances that they couldn’t find anything further about the case. He emphasized that he was referring to new leadership within the FBI, distancing himself from former heads like James Comey and Christopher Wray, whom he distrusts.

A Legacy of Distrust

While Trump has connections within the FBI, he noted that six months isn’t sufficient to rebuild trust with an institution he feels has been weaponized against him for nearly ten years. The issue of corruption in the FBI runs much deeper than just its top brass.

The vagueness surrounding Trump’s would-be assassin deserves closer examination. It’s common for the public to lack full details, often labeled as “national security” concerns or tied to ongoing investigations. This is a signature of a bureaucratic system that tends to restrict information.

This culture of secrecy permeates Washington. Those in power, alongside their allies, seem to dictate what’s shared with the public, often releasing only what aligns with their agenda. For generations, Americans have championed transparency but have rarely seen it realized, raising questions about who truly holds power in the capital.

The Pattern of Ambiguity

Take the assassination of John F. Kennedy, for example. For over 60 years, many have doubted the official accounts laid out by intelligence agencies. A Gallup poll shortly after Kennedy’s funeral revealed that most Americans believed the shooter did not act alone. The ongoing lack of transparency perpetuated speculation.

During early hearings on declassifying federal secrets, experts confirmed that Trump’s push for declassification was undeniable. Recently, new documents highlighted that the CIA misled Congress regarding Lee Harvey Oswald’s ties, revealing that the agency had concealed critical information.

For more than six decades, institutions funded by and reporting to Congress have evaded accountability. They’ve not only escaped scrutiny but have often benefited from their actions.

Issues with Oversight

If the CIA is unaccountable to Congress, then who is? Both Republican and Democrat administrations have struggled to fully comply with the JFK Assassination Records Act of 1992. Under Trump, excuses from the Intel community continued: national security concerns prevailed.

Must Americans wait decades to learn the truth about their government? If Congress, the president, and the people are sidelined, then who remains in control?

The Urgency of Transparency

The American public feels increasingly disconnected from decision-making in Washington. The right to know who is responsible for decisions made on their behalf has been all but lost. Perhaps, as Madison suggested, the government has become a “prologue to farces and tragedy.”

For Congress members, it’s crucial to uphold the Constitution and ensure transparency to maintain trust in the Democratic Republic. Until credible reasons arise to limit transparency due to harm against constituents, we must insist on it at every juncture.