Dozens of House and Senate Democrats introduced a resolution Wednesday that calls on President-elect Trump separate himself completely from his vast business empire, in order to ensure he does not face any conflicts of interest once he becomes president.
“The American people should have every confidence that actions taken by our new president are in the country’s best interest rather than his own,” said Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., the sponsor of the House version of the resolution.
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., proposed an identical Senate version.
Both resolutions warn that Trump is at risk of violating the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause unless he completely divests from the Trump Organization.
The Emoluments Clause puts limits on the ability of federal officials from taking gifts, money or other valuables from foreign entities. Democrats have been worried that foreign officials might look to win favor with Trump by staying at his hotels.
Democrats argue that Trump’s company “has financial interests around the world and negotiates and concludes transactions with foreign states and entities that are extensions of foreign states.” Their resolution said the business of Trump’s company, and Trump himself as president, “has the potential to constitute the foreign corruption so feared by the Founding Fathers and betray the trust of America’s citizens.”
The resolution called on Trump to take two steps.
First, it said Trump should “convert his assets to simple, conflict-free holdings, adopt blind trusts managed by an independent trustee … or take other equivalent measures” to comply with the Emoluments Clause. And secondly, it called on Trump “not to use the powers or opportunities of his position” as president to help the Trump Organization.
It warned that if Trump doesn’t take the first step, Congress would view Trump’s dealings as president as “potential violations of the Emoluments Clause.”
Read the resolution below:
