🚫 Not fit for public office. Fewer than three stars, and a critical Article fails (Open Books). This isn’t a close call. Expect to hear from us — often.
Editorial opinion — our judgment against the Seven Articles, not a legal disqualification or an allegation of any crime. Ratings terms · Challenge this review
1Open Bookscritical
50%☆ not yet
“…the property of the people.” — Cicero, De Re Publica
None% of receipts from PACs — over the 15% cap; fails the money floor. (FEC 2026)
60
2Free & Fair Electionscritical
82%★ earned
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” — Abraham Lincoln
No 2020 election denial, no fake-elector role, and no documented support for partisan gerrymandering. (Jan 6 roll call; OpenSecrets; redistricting record)
60
3The Dignity of the Opponent
42%☆ not yet
“Treat humanity … always as an end and never as a means only.” — Kant
Labeled critics 'environmental terrorist groups' and said '30 percent of the crew' at Interior wasn't 'loyal to the flag.'
60
4Fear Is Not Fuel
45%☆ not yet
“…the better angels of our nature.” — Lincoln, First Inaugural
Traffics in loyalty-and-enemy framing (birther claims, blaming 'environmental terrorists' for 2018 wildfires) over an affirmative agenda.
60
5Truth & a Kept Word
35%☆ not yet
“…living within the truth.” A representative owes “his judgment.” — Havel · Burke
Interior IG concluded he 'repeatedly violated ethical rules and then lied to investigators'; promoted false birther claims about Obama.
60
6Against the Spirit of Party
48%☆ not yet
“The baneful effects of the spirit of party.” — Washington, Farewell Address
Broadly Trump-aligned; no consistent record of costly breaks from his party documented.
60
7Morality
35%☆ not yet
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
As Interior Secretary, referred to DOJ over the Connecticut casino matter and cited by IG for ethics violations and taxpayer-funded travel misuse.
60
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Scores are Independent 2026’s own editorial read against the Seven Articles — ≥60% earns the star. The first two Articles are critical: fail Open Books or Free & Fair Elections and there is no seal, whatever else holds. Each Article carries its founding quote as the yardstick. On bias →