John -
Just a few weeks ago, CREW released our new report tracking more than 2,300 conflicts of interest so far in the Trump presidency. But it’s already out of date—because in the Trump administration, governing is little more than a tool to make President Trump money.
Last week, Trump made the alarming (and corrupt!) announcement that he’s hoping to hold next year’s G-7 Summit, a vitally important meeting of world leaders, at the Trump National Doral in Miami.
This week, Vice President Mike Pence stayed at Trump’s Doonbeg golf course in Ireland--which happens to be located 3 hours and all the way across the island from Dublin, where his official meetings were, but which conveniently leads to profits for the president. Meanwhile, Pence was only in Ireland to replace President Trump on a foreign trip—the president stayed behind to monitor Hurricane Dorian, which he did while wearing a hat sold by his campaign. At least, he was monitoring the hurricane, before he went golfing at his own golf course in Virginia during a national emergency. Every official action has become a marketing opportunity, even disaster response.
In my op-ed for USA Today yesterday, I argued that failing to divest from his businesses was the original sin of Trump’s presidency. Keeping his business interests laid the groundwork for all the conflicts of interest that have followed, which President Trump has invited and cultivated. We see this every day, with Trump actively encouraging members of his administration, members of Congress, lobbyists, and others to spend money at his businesses. Trump’s cronies have gotten the memo. Just look at AG Bill Barr, who will be hosting a $30,000 holiday party at Trump’s DC hotel. In return for spending money at Trump properties, many have received access and appointments—such as the Mar-a-Lago members who offered input on VA contracts and policies that were well outside of their areas of expertise.
Beyond the blatant corruption concerns raised by all of these conflicts, many of them also likely violate the Constitution. The apparent constant violations of the Emoluments Clauses are a clear example of the kind of serious, structural wrongdoing the framers had in mind as grounds for the constitution’s own accountability process, and that’s why CREW called for an impeachment inquiry on that basis and others more than a month ago.
When Congress returns from recess, the House Judiciary Committee is planning a number of oversight hearings dealing with President Trump’s abuses of power, conflicts of interest, and more. President Trump’s latest behavior has only intensified the need for Congress to carry out an impeachment inquiry, and you can help remind them of that urgency. Will you email your member of Congress now and ask them to support an impeachment inquiry?
Thank you,
Noah Bookbinder
Executive Director, CREW
