Trump Dances Around Conflict Of Interest Complaints
D. S. Mitchell
On 6/28/2017 Jeremy Venook wrote an interesting article for The Atlantic that pointed to serious conflicts of interest between Donald Trump’s business affairs and his job as President of the United States. I am going to review, comment, and regurgitate some of his points. Venook points to numerous questionable Trump dealings and created a list of what he has identified as conflicts of interest. I ask any readers to please go to the Atlantic.com site and read the accompanying articles addressing all the items of Venook’s list. The list is at the end of his 6/28/2017 article.
That list is as follows: 1.) Clean Water Rule 2.) Real estate development outside New Delhi 3.) Golf course in Westchester county, NY 4.) Russian Trademarks 5.) Trump Organization Event Planner 6.) Saudi Arabia lobbying effort 6.) Golf course in New Jersey 7.) Meeting in Brussels 8.) Tower in Toronto 9.) Condos for sale 10.) Re-election campaign funds 11.) Second hotel in Washington, D.C. 12.) Property in Azerbaijan 13.) Trump Tower penthouse 14.) Resort in the Dominican Republic 15.) Chinese Trademark 16.) Mar-a-Lago meetings 17.) Defense Department Trump Tower rental 18.) Red Cross Ball 19.) Washington, D.C. labor dispute 20.) Palm Beach estate 21.) Trump Organization planned business expansion 22.) Hotel in Vancouver, B.C. 23.) Reality TV show 24.) Pipeline 25.) HUD grants 26.) Golf course in Aberdeen, Scotland 27.) Other billionaire NY real estate developer 28.) Indonesian politician 29.) Emirati businessman 30.) Virginia vineyard 31.) Las Vegas labor dispute 32.) Kuwaiti event 33.) Certificates of Divestiture 34.) Carrier deal 35.) Blind trust issue 36.) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac investments 37.) Phone call with Taiwan 38.) Deutsche Bank debt 38.) Properties in the country of Georgia 39.) Phone call and meet with Turkey’s Erdogan 40.) D.C. hotel 41.) Argentinian office building 42.) Companies in Saudi Arabia 43.) British Wind farms 44.) Indian business partners 45.) Envoy from Philippines.
The scope of Venook’s list makes it clear that POTUS has not taken the necessary steps to separate himself from the Trump Organization and now that he is occupying the White House the issue is a growing center of complaint from ethics watchdog groups. On January 11, 2017 Sheri Dillon, a reported Trump attorney, stood in front of stacks of paperwork and claimed that the paperwork was done to remove Mr. Trump from the day to day operation of the Trump Organization and it’s related 800 plus companies. According to Dillon, the business will be run by Trump’s two sons, Donald, Jr. and Eric.
The ethics analysts complain that, as long as Trump continues to profit from his business empire-which he does, whether or not he is nominally in charge-the possibility exists that foreign sources will attempt to affect the President’s policies by feeding his wallet. Several lawsuits have been filed against the president since he took office and they are currently winding their way through the courts. Norm Eisen, Harvard professor and Emoluments expert is highly critical of Trump’s actions, “His businesses present avenues by which foreign governments could seek to influence the president by, for example, booking stays at one of his hotels, or renting space at one of his properties.”
At least one of the current lawsuits seeks to force Trump to reveal his tax returns, something that every president since Gerald Ford has done voluntarily. Trump’s refusal to do so has significantly limited the public’s ability to understand the president’s finances. Trump has called such lawsuits, “meritless”.
CREW (Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) is currently involved with several lawsuits against Trump. That organization has also filed a separate complaint to the General Services Administration arguing that Trump is in violation of his lease, which clearly states, “no elected official of government of the United States shall be admitted to any share or part of Lease, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom.”
Trump’s problems with perceived and actual conflict of interest began immediately upon him taking office. Trump’s immense wealth brings “unique and gravely concerning entanglements that whether he recognizes their effects or not threaten to undermine his decision making as president,” writes Venook.
The stacks of files shown off by Trump and attorney Dillon did little or nothing to resolve the many issues. The Atlantic referred to Trump’s assertion that he will not be talking business with his two son’s, whom he has delegated to run the Trump Organization, a “pinky-swear assurance” at best and highlights the ridiculousness of such a promise.
That Jan 11 plan also included a promise to ban any new foreign deals. The Trump Organization has recently announced, that despite the earlier promise to ban expansion overseas, has in fact decided to move forward with expanding its golf course in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Trump has attempted to deflect criticism by repeatedly asserting a 1989 law that exempts the two top chief executives of the United States from conflicts of interest rules, on the understanding that “their purview is so broad that is would be impossible for them to completely disentangle themselves”.
“Regardless of legality it does not imply propriety,” argues Venook. Along with the Russia scandal Trump’s refusal to divest himself of his business interests will cast a black cloud over this administration that is likely to bring a major storm before it all ends.
The recent e-mail releases revolving around the Russian collusion matter, by Donald Trump, jr. have set off a firestorm and that discussion is still burning up the Twittisphere. I am glad that the Mueller team seems to be tight on leaks, but I wish I knew a bit more about the progress of the investigation.
The longer this matter festers the worse for the country.
Join the Resistance
Dar
