U.S. politics is drowning in scandal. President Donald Trump continues to test the boundaries of what is considered acceptable, blurring the lines between his family’s self-interest and the responsibilities of his office. While the president’s first term generated similar concerns, such as foreign organizations and government leaders booking rooms at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, his second term is blowing the roof off any lingering informal or formal safeguards that were put into place in the 1970s, after Watergate.

Just a few weeks ago, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a deal that the Department of Justice had reached with Trump—who had sued for damages related to prior investigations—that will establish a $1.8 billion fund for individuals claiming they were targeted by the federal government. As an unexpected kicker, Trump and his family are being granted immunity from investigations into their taxes. In most administrations, this alone would have been enough to set off major alarm bells, even within the president’s own party.

U.S. politics is drowning in scandal. President Donald Trump continues to test the boundaries of what is considered acceptable, blurring the lines between his family’s self-interest and the responsibilities of his office. While the president’s first term generated similar concerns, such as foreign organizations and government leaders booking rooms at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, his second term is blowing the roof off any lingering informal or formal safeguards that were put into place in the 1970s, after Watergate.

Just a few weeks ago, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a deal that the Department of Justice had reached with Trump—who had sued for damages related to prior investigations—that will establish a $1.8 billion fund for individuals claiming they were targeted by the federal government. As an unexpected kicker, Trump and his family are being granted immunity from investigations into their taxes. In most administrations, this alone would have been enough to set off major alarm bells, even within the president’s own party.

Yes, some Senate Republicans finally said no, at least for the time being, by refusing to pass legislation that would pay for the fund, as well as provide money for Trump’s ballroom renovations.

But even if the Republican “no” lasts longer than a few weeks, what is most remarkable is that it took this much brazenness to trigger a reaction. The tax immunity for the Trump family is just the tip of the iceberg. After an inauguration that featured some of the nation’s top executives, including Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg (whose companies contributed over $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural committee), Trump began his term by........

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