Well, all I know is if a US President did what Trump has done in the 80s or prior, he would've been shot as a traitor, or swinging at end of rope from the nearest lamp post.

The laws have not changed, but we have slid into a reality-tv world of 7-24 talking head opinion and absolutely zero legal consequences for what are clearly criminal acts.

I think Administrations have always been up to shit, but you could say there wasn't open and crass self-enrichment so up front and center. Say what you want, these Congress critters used to work hard at covering their tracks as part of the game, and if they got found out, off to jail. Today, the graft and corruption is right in your face, which seems to make it ok.