Watergate - dark money and presidential abuse of power returns stronger than ever: op-ed

This is a guest opinion column provided to 205focus.com.

Those who dismiss the June 17, 1972, break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters as a minor burglary are either suffering from historical amnesia or attempting to craft a disingenuous narrative. The subsequent cover-up led to the resignation of Richard Nixon on August 9, 1974, only to be followed by Gerald Ford’s unconditional pardon of the former president—a decision that set a dangerous precedent for future executive accountability.

The Shadow of Watergate in 2026

While the themes of presidential malfeasance and resignation might seem like remnants of the past, they are strikingly relevant in 2026. We are currently witnessing a climate where a former president, convicted on 34 felony counts, seeks to undermine federal law enforcement while shielded by Supreme Court-granted immunity for his actions as president.

Watergate left behind a malignant legacy. Today, the influence of billions of dollars in super PAC spending and a presidency that operates as if it were above the law have become defining characteristics of our political landscape.

The Return of Dark Money

In the post-Watergate era, Congress worked to curb the influence of big money in politics by increasing transparency. However, those ethics have been eroded. The Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010), essentially declared that restrictions on corporate and union political spending violated the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause.

The impact is undeniable. During the 2024 election cycle, super PAC spending soared to roughly $2.7 billion, up from $1.4 billion in 2022, according to data from OpenSecrets. Furthermore, a May 21, 2026, report from The Nation notes that industries like artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency have funneled over $321 million into the 2026 cycle to shape regulations and defeat uncooperative candidates.

Here in Alabama, we are no strangers to this phenomenon. Voters and candidates alike have dealt with the fallout of anonymous campaign spending, fueling a growing demand for legal reforms to expose these dark money donors.

Accountability and the Imperial Presidency

Many historians now argue that Ford’s pardon of Nixon failed to heal the nation, suggesting that a jury trial would have better served as a testament to the fact that the rule of law applies to everyone. Instead, the precedent of that pardon has arguably paved the way for the executive pardons seen in recent years from Donald Trump and Joe Biden, reinforcing a culture of impunity among elites.

Watergate was never just about a botched burglary; it was a window into deep-seated issues within our government that still demand our attention. If we are to avoid repeating history, we must address the rise of the imperial presidency and put an end to the era of anonymous donors dictating election outcomes through deception.

Wayne Morse is a trial lawyer and graduate of Birmingham-Southern College and Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. He observed the Watergate Congressional hearings during the summer of 1973 prior to beginning his legal education.