Breaking: Trump Requests Security Clearances for His Children – Who Will Be Running His ‘Blind’ Trust
When He Becomes President, Trump ‘Could Clear Them Himself’
Donald Trump’s attorney has gone on record saying the president-elect’s three adult children will be running all of Trump’s businesses in what Trump is calling a “blind trust,” even though, by definition, that is not a blind trust.Â
Late last week many analysts expressed concern over that arrangement, which was then compounded when it Trump announced that his three adult children – Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka – along with Jared Kushner, Ivanka’s husband who also publishes The New York Observer, would be part of the Trump administration’s transition team. The transition team is responsible for hiring decisions of the estimated 4000 people that comprise the White House team, including 1000 who will require congressional approval. The transition team is also responsible for establishing policy initiatives and even strategy.
So despite the huge conflict of interest with the president-elect’s children running his international real estate empire, and now working on his transition team, NBC News reports that President-elect Trump has now “asked about” security clearances for his three children.
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, citing NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell, posted a tweet stating “NBC News confirms Trump has asked abt security clearances for his kids.” Maddow notes that after the inaugural, “he could clear them himself.”
Per @MitchellReports, NBC News confirms Trump has asked abt security clearances for his kids. After inaugural, he could clear them himself.
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) November 14, 2016
And CNN’s Wolf Blitzer went even further, stating Trump has requested security clearances for his three children, and for Jared Kushner.Â
Transition official tells @Acosta Trump has asked for top secret clearance for his adult children + son-in-law https://t.co/SqtsNnBdOV
— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) November 14, 2016
Not only is it likely that Trump will not wholly divorce himself from running his business empire – he plans on staying in Trump Tower a few nights a week, and traveling to Mar-a-Lago on weekends, so he’ll be at the nexus of his empire several days each week – his children, who will be running his businesses for him, will be privy to state secrets and national security information – information they could use to benefit The Trump Organization. And in turn, smart foreign agents could discern America’s secrets by moves Trump businesses make.
UPDATE:
Via The Daily Beast:
“CBS’s Julianne Goldman reports that Trump’s adult children would run his business and work as unpaid national security advisors, to skirt nepotism rules. Their suggested dual roles would invite an unprecedented conflict of interests.”
UPDATE II:
“Top Secret Security Clearances“:
.@realDonaldTrump team has asked @WhiteHouse how his children could receive top secret security clearances – details on @CBSEveningNews
— Julianna Goldman (@juliannagoldman) November 14, 2016
Here’s how some responded on Twitter:
@maddow So they could use top secret information while running the family businesses. What could possibly go wrong? Seems normal!
— Paul McMann (@MannAtlanta) November 14, 2016
@maddow @mitchellreports so can they be present in the situation room?
— Ashanka Iddya (@aiddya) November 14, 2016
@maddow @mitchellreports so trump kids can run his businesses and have top security? No one sees conflict there?! 😱
— Mozella (@mozellamusic) November 14, 2016
@maddow @mitchellreports the presidency is not a family business.
— Ali Ghezelbash (@AliGhezelbash) November 14, 2016
@cbouzy @maddow It is a conflict of interest but Rudy says it’s ok because those rules don’t apply to the President. Like this guy did. pic.twitter.com/FBVuligdnt
— Sheila H Garland (@SheilaGinHB) November 14, 2016
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