Every modern American president, from both parties, has followed the same course when it comes to the post-election transition process. They’ve all accepted fundraising limits in exchange for millions of dollars in federal funds set aside specifically to cover the costs associated with the shift from one administration to another.

As is often the case, Donald Trump is following a very different path. In fact, The New York Times reported that the Republican president-elect is running his transition team on “secret money,” hiding the names of the donors who are financing his transition effort.

Mr. Trump has so far declined to sign an agreement with the Biden administration that imposes strict limits on that fund-raising in exchange for up to $7.2 million in federal funds earmarked for the transition. By dodging the agreement, Mr. Trump can raise unlimited amounts of money from unknown donors to pay for the staff, travel and office space involved in preparing to take over the government.

In practical terms, anyone — including foreign officials — are now in a position to write generous and unlimited checks to the incoming American president’s transition team, knowing that their names and interests will be shielded from public scrutiny.

Those looking to bribe the president-elect, in other words, wouldn’t have to place orders for overpriced wristwatches.

In theory, if Trump were using this approach to accept bribes, he could be prosecuted for alleged crimes. In practice, however, Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices have effectively elevated the presidency above the law, making clear to Trump that he’s largely immune from legal accountability.

Let’s not forget that around this time eight years ago, the incoming Trump administration stuck to the usual model and signed the agreement with the General Services Administration. This year, for reasons that have not yet been explained, the Republican and his operation have decided to pursue an unprecedented path.

In case that weren’t quite enough, the same Times report added:

The Trump transition has also left unsigned a memorandum of understanding with the White House that outlines how appointees and other staff members can gain physical access to federal agencies and classified information before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20. That agreement is contingent on the transition submitting and posting publicly an ethics plan that complies with federal law, including an explicit statement about Mr. Trump’s own plans to avoid potential conflicts of interest. It has so far not done so.

The original Trump administration was effectively the first modern pro-corruption administration. The sequel will almost certainly be worse.

 This post updates our related earlier coverage.