 John,
Unlike presidential campaigns or inaugural committees, presidential libraries have almost no restrictions on donations. Presidents can raise funds for their libraries while still in office, and accept donations from anyone—including those looking to influence the president. We’ve already seen large corporations, at least one foreign government and other entities promise to donate a total of hundreds of millions of dollars to Trump’s future library—while he still has the power to affect their financial futures and regulatory environments. Paramount, for example, settled Trump’s lawsuit alleging that it deceptively edited a TV segment for $16 million, with the money going straight to Trump’s future library. Paramount, at the time, was seeking the Trump administration’s approval for its mega-merger with Skydance. Companies looking to sway the Trump administration in their favor have pledged to donate at least $63 million to Trump’s future library. Without any restrictions on donations to presidential libraries, those looking to extract favors from the White House could potentially do so in exchange for gifts and benefits. The Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act is sponsored by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal and Representatives Jamie Raskin, Jared Moskowitz and Melanie Stansbury. It would increase transparency and close loopholes that allow presidential libraries to be used as tools for corruption and bribery, including by imposing a cap on contributions, limiting donations by lobbyists and people seeking pardons and banning personal use of donations.
Thank you, Debra Perlin Vice President for Policy CREW |
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