Raskin insists Trump returns $7.8M from foreign governments: ‘Shocking breach

House Oversight Committee Demands Trump Return $7 Million in Foreign ​Government Profits

House ‌Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jamie‍ Raskin‌ (D-MD) has sent a ‌bold letter to former President Donald Trump, demanding that he return the more than $7 ‌million his businesses made from foreign governments while he was president.

Last week, Raskin released a comprehensive report⁢ exposing that‌ 20 foreign governments spent at least $7.8 million⁤ at‍ Trump-owned properties during his presidency. This report claims that Trump’s ⁤actions violated the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause, which prohibits sitting presidents from accepting money‍ from ⁢foreign states without⁤ Congress’s approval.

Now, Raskin is taking a stand and demanding that Trump give back the money⁤ he received.

“The Constitution makes clear that⁢ as President, ‘without the Consent of Congress,’ you‌ were prohibited from accepting ‘any present, Emolument, Office, or Title,‌ of any ‌kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.’ You did not seek or ⁣obtain Congress’s consent to keep any of the at ⁣least $7.8 million in foreign emoluments you raked in as President. As such, you ​violated the Constitution you were sworn to ‘preserve, protect, and defend,’” Raskin said in the ⁣letter.

The report’s findings are based on information provided by Mazars, Trump’s former accounting firm, which was subpoenaed by⁢ the Oversight Committee when Democrats ‍controlled the House. Since the GOP House takeover, Democrats have been denied access to Trump’s accounting. Therefore, ‌Raskin is also demanding a full accounting of all payments, benefits, or ‌other emoluments Trump ⁤received from foreign ​governments or their agents during his ‌presidency.

Although Trump resigned from his position as head of his companies while⁤ in office, he failed to fully divest or place his assets into a blind trust, as experts recommended. In fact,⁢ during a recent Fox News town hall, Trump indicated that he would not divest ‌from ‍his businesses‍ if he‍ were to become⁣ president‌ again.

“If I​ have⁣ a hotel⁢ and somebody comes ⁢in from‌ China, that’s a small amount of money,” Trump said. “I was doing services for that. People were‌ staying in these massive hotels, these beautiful hotels, ‍and they stayed there and they ⁢paid. I don’t get $8 million ‍for​ doing nothing,” he added.

The ​issue of Trump’s businesses and potential illegal profits ‍from foreign ⁢governments has ⁣been heavily litigated, even reaching ⁤the Supreme⁣ Court, which ‍dismissed the lawsuits in 2021.

On social media, Trump and his family mocked Raskin’s report, dismissing it⁤ as ⁢a joke and claiming that all profits made from ⁢foreign governments at their hotels were voluntarily donated to the United ⁣States⁤ Treasury.

Raskin strongly refuted ⁤this, arguing that the emoluments clause does not only prohibit “profits” but ⁤also any form of monetary gain from foreign governments. By accepting money from them, the Trump family violated​ the Constitution.

“As the ⁣report explains, it is hard to imagine a more⁢ ludicrous and half-hearted approach to the categorical prohibition in the Constitution than The Trump Organization’s ‘voluntary donation’⁣ policy, which was grossly underinclusive in⁢ several other respects,” Raskin said in the letter. “… Your acceptance of foreign emoluments while in office was a stunning violation⁣ of the U.S. Constitution—and a profound betrayal of the ‍interests of the United States and the trust of the American‌ people.”

Neither a Trump spokesperson nor a House Oversight Republican spokesperson responded to ⁤requests for comment.

Why is it important for Congress to have access to the financial records of sitting presidents to ensure transparency and hold them accountable for any potential ‍violations of the⁣ Constitution

‍Ough the letter to ⁤Trump is a noteworthy step, it is unlikely to lead to immediate action. The former president ⁤has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has shown little willingness to comply with similar requests in the past. However, the House Oversight Committee’s pursuit of accountability sends a strong⁣ message about ⁤the importance of upholding the Constitution and ensuring that public officials are not profiting from ⁤their positions.

The issue of foreign emoluments gained significant attention during Trump’s presidency. Critics argued that by maintaining ownership of his business empire while serving as president, Trump created a potential avenue for foreign actors to influence his decision-making or gain favor. The Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause was specifically designed to prevent such conflicts of interest, emphasizing the ⁣need for transparency and accountability in government.

The comprehensive report released by Raskin highlights⁣ the ⁢extent to which foreign governments spent money at Trump-owned⁣ properties during his tenure as president. The‌ $7.8 million ‌figure ⁣is based on information ⁣provided by Mazars, Trump’s former accounting firm, which was compelled to provide these records through a subpoena. Unfortunately, ongoing legal battles and partisan politics have prevented Democrats from gaining full access to Trump’s financial records. As a result, Raskin’s ⁤demand for a complete accounting of all foreign payments received ‍by Trump remains unfulfilled.

This situation⁢ underscores the need for stronger oversight mechanisms‌ and safeguards ⁤to ‌prevent conflicts of interest in the future.⁤ It is ‌essential for Congress to have access⁤ to the⁤ financial records of sitting presidents to ensure transparency and hold them accountable for any potential violations of the Constitution. The Foreign Emoluments Clause exists precisely to prevent leaders from being compromised by foreign interests and to safeguard the integrity of the presidency.

While ​the chances of ⁢Trump voluntarily returning the $7 ⁤million are ⁢slim, it is crucial⁤ for Congress to⁣ continue‌ pushing for transparency and accountability, not only ⁢in this case but also for future presidents. The House Oversight Committee’s actions serve as ⁤a reminder that no individual,‌ no matter ⁣their position or power, is above the ⁣law.

In conclusion, the demand made by the House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin ​for Trump to⁣ return the $7 million in foreign government profits represents a significant step towards holding public officials accountable for potential violations of the Constitution. Despite the unlikelihood ⁢of immediate compliance, the committee’s pursuit of a full accounting of Trump’s financial transactions with ‌foreign governments highlights the importance of transparency⁣ and the need to prevent conflicts of interest in government. By upholding the principles enshrined in the Constitution, Congress can ensure the integrity ⁤and credibility of the presidency for future administrations.