‘Divest All Interests That Create Financial Conflicts of Interest by Selling These Assets’
Six Senate Democrats, led by Elizabeth Warren, are filing a bill that would for President-elect Donald Trump to divest himself of any assets that pose a conflict of interest.Â
“The American people deserve to know that the President of the United States is working to do what’s best for the country — not using his office to do what’s best for himself and his businesses,” Warren said, as The Hill reported.
Pointing to the Emoluments Clause, the bill would require Trump, along with Vice President-elect Mike Pence, their spouses and minor children, to “divest all interests that create financial conflicts of interest by selling these assets and placing the proceeds in a true blind trust.” Trump has blatantly refused to do so, despite years ago stating it would be an expectation for anyone running for the presidency.
The legislation would also make official – what is called “a sense of the Congress” – that the president is not exempt from other rules and laws that apply to other executive branch members, and even uses the threat of impeachment. It states, “the President’s violation of financial conflicts of interest laws or the ethics requirements that apply to executive branch employees constitute a high crime or misdemeanor under the impeachment clause of the U.S. Constitution.”
Wisely, the bill also prohibits “Presidential appointees from participating in matters that directly involve the financial interests of the President, the President’s spouse, or businesses controlled by the President or the President’s spouse.”
The initial sponsors of the bill include Sen. Warren and Democratic Senators Ben Cardin (MD), Chris Coons (DE), Dick Durbin (IL) and Jeff Merkley (OR).
The legislation faces an uphill battle. There will be 52 Republicans in the Senate next year.
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