To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
Donald Trump - the American People are your only client
It's time for Congress to send Donald Trump a message — lay down clear rules of the road by passing legislation directing him how to handle conflicts with his business and family's businesses.
*Pass H.R. 6340 (Clark-MA) which would make POTUS and VPOTUS subject to the same basic conflict of interest rules as executive branch officials.
*Pass legislation to require POTUS and VPOTUS as well as all future major party nominees [S. 2979 (Wyden-OR)], to release their tax filings on a annual basis and all amendments on a timely basis.
*Pass legislation that clarifies that the U.S. Constitution's “foreign emolument" clause (Art. I Sec. 9) creates a complete ban on ordinary business transactions with representatives of foreign powers.
*Include in the Federal Budget language that prevents any funds from being directed to POTUS or his family's businesses , in the spirit of the Art II Sec 1. emoluments clause.
*Pass H.R. 6340 (Clark-MA) which would make POTUS and VPOTUS subject to the same basic conflict of interest rules as executive branch officials.
*Pass legislation to require POTUS and VPOTUS as well as all future major party nominees [S. 2979 (Wyden-OR)], to release their tax filings on a annual basis and all amendments on a timely basis.
*Pass legislation that clarifies that the U.S. Constitution's “foreign emolument" clause (Art. I Sec. 9) creates a complete ban on ordinary business transactions with representatives of foreign powers.
*Include in the Federal Budget language that prevents any funds from being directed to POTUS or his family's businesses , in the spirit of the Art II Sec 1. emoluments clause.
Why is this important?
In recent weeks, the vast scope of potential conflicts between President-Elect Trump’s business dealings and his duty to serve the American people has become even more clear:
*The financial structure that has been described as a “blind trust” for his holdings turns out to be controlled by members of his transition committee and his closest advisors — his children.
*The Trump Organization met with about 100 representatives of foreign governments to pitch them staying at the Trump Organization’s new hotel in Washington, D.C.
*Our President-Elect has still not disclosed to whom he owes money, despite copious reports that foreign banks are among his major creditors.
*The Secret Service is reportedly leasing space directly from the Trump Organization.
Our next President has made clear over and over in business and his campaign that his strategy is to comply with only the letter and not the spirit of the law. This is not acceptable for the President of the United States, who has to set a broad example of respect for our laws.
*The financial structure that has been described as a “blind trust” for his holdings turns out to be controlled by members of his transition committee and his closest advisors — his children.
*The Trump Organization met with about 100 representatives of foreign governments to pitch them staying at the Trump Organization’s new hotel in Washington, D.C.
*Our President-Elect has still not disclosed to whom he owes money, despite copious reports that foreign banks are among his major creditors.
*The Secret Service is reportedly leasing space directly from the Trump Organization.
Our next President has made clear over and over in business and his campaign that his strategy is to comply with only the letter and not the spirit of the law. This is not acceptable for the President of the United States, who has to set a broad example of respect for our laws.