simple razor to decide whether someone is corrupt or not: do they support the use of government force to enforce their opinions on others. additionally you can ask the question whether they have became prominent through money they got by exploiting or acquiring a chunk of tax revenue. he gets a check mark on both points just like basically everyone who is promoted by all of the state sanctioned media outlets, who are also in the same position, and after covid, idk what to say. there is no conspiracy? i don't think that's a tenable position.