Selection of Pompeo Solidifies Trump’s Position with Koch Brothers:
"Whatever one thinks of Paul Manafort, the former manager of Trump’s presidential campaign who has since been indicted for conspiracy against the United States, he exercised keen political judgment when he pushed Trump to offer Koch toady Mike Pence the running-mate slot, even after the Republican standard-bearer had reportedly promised it to Chris Christie, who was then the reviled governor of New Jersey. That ensured a measure of Koch support for Trump in the general election. But it also provided the Kochs with an insurance policy of their own: Should Trump get out of control, the Koch brothers not only had a Congress that would likely serve up impeachment papers should they give the signal; they had a doer of their biddings in line to take Trump’s place. With his pick of CIA Director Mike Pompeo to replace Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Trump shows once again that he knows on which side his bread is buttered. Pompeo joins a cabinet that is already heavily sprinkled with Koch acolytes and pals, including Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, a Koch network donor; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, friend of David Koch; and Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke, the former congressman who is determined to make it possible for Koch Industries to mine uranium on public lands. But Pompeo holds the distinction, in his former guise as a member of Congress, of being described by OpenSecrets.org in a 2016 tweet as “the #1 all-time recipient of #KOCH Industries $$$"."
