Petition to Congress:
Bipartisan ethics groups and experts are sounding the alarm about Donald Trump's massive, unprecedented conflicts of interest between his business empire and his duties as incoming president. Please act without delay to pass Elizabeth Warren's Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act requiring Trump and any president to sell off their conflicts of interest and put the assets in a true blind trust.
Donald Trump has refused to do the bare minimum to resolve the massive conflicts of interest between his personal financial interests and official duties as president.1
Trump announced he’ll lock in his conflicts of interest by keeping ownership of his business empire and letting his children run the company.
Elizabeth Warren is having none of it.
She's introduced a bill to FORCE Donald Trump to sell his stake in the Trump Organization and put his assets in a true blind trust.2
Sign the petition to Congress: Do not let Donald Trump abuse the power of the presidency for personal profit. Pass Elizabeth Warren’s bill taking on Trump's conflicts of interest without delay.
Bipartisan ethics groups and experts have been sounding the alarm about Trump’s conflicts.
He owes hundreds of millions to a foreign bank facing massive fines from the U.S. Justice Department he will soon control, has used official calls with political leaders from Turkey to Great Britain to push the Trump Organization’s business interests, and Trump hotels are encouraging foreign diplomats to book stays at Trump properties to buy influence.
Experts agree: To address his conflicts of interest, Donald Trump would have to at LEAST:
- Liquidate his stake in the Trump Organization – As an owner, Trump can enrich himself with government actions that benefit the Trump Organization.
- Put all his assets into a true blind trust – A blind trust has an independent manager, and NO involvement of his children.
- Release his tax returns – The first presidential candidate in over 40 years to not release his tax returns – despite promising to do so – Trump’s tax returns could be hiding countless more conflicts of interest.
But Trump has refused. It’s clear Trump won’t do the right thing about his conflicts of interests unless he’s forced to.
Sign the petition to Congress: Pass Elizabeth Warren’s bill to force Trump to sell his stake in the Trump Organization and put his assets in a true blind trust.
From threatening journalists to bullying vulnerable communities, Trump in power poses fundamental threats to a democracy where elected leaders serve the interest of the public.
And Trump’s unprecedented conflicts of interest give him a massive ability to abuse the power of the presidency for personal profit.
With business entanglements in 20 foreign countries, Constitutional experts say Trump will violate the Constitution on Day One, breaching the "Emoluments Clause" prohibition on payments from foreign governments to public officials.3
This is not normal. And it’s not okay. But it’s up to us to fight back.
Elizabeth Warren's Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act is the right way to stop many of the worst ways Trump could abuse the presidency for personal profit. It requires presidents, vice presidents, and their families to sell off holdings that pose a financial conflict of interest and put the assets in a blind trust. And it would prohibit presidential appointees from taking official actions to enrich a president's business holdings.
Sign the petition to Congress: Pass Elizabeth Warren’s Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act to force Trump to sell his stake in the Trump Organization and put his assets in a true blind trust.
Sources:
1. WIRED, "Trump's Plan to Avoid Conflicts of Interest Won't Avoid A Thing," Jan 11, 2017.
2. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, "Senate Democrats to Introduce Bill to Require President and Vice President to Fully Divest Personal Financial Conflicts of Interest," Dec 15, 2016.
3. The Atlantic, "Trump Could Be in Violation of the Constitution His First Day in Office," Dec 7, 2016.