Ezra can be mistaken - more thoroughly mistaken than most people - but he has never been venal.
He was not to mention the matter of money to the press: that would be too venal.
The law courts are venal and can take decades to decide a case.
willing to use power and influence in a dishonest way in return for money: our venal politicians—venality /viːˈnæləti/ noun [uncountable]: His venality has discredited Parliament.