Washington, D.C. – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined 32 of his colleagues to introduce a resolution calling upon President Trump to follow the precedent established by prior Presidents and take measures to sever all connections with his private business in order to avoid a potential violation of the Constitution of the United States.
“The President continues to present unprecedented conflicts of interest,” Bennet said. “The Administration should comply with the Constitution and make clear that it is placing the American people’s interests above those of the President’s business.”
Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the U.S. Constitution provides that “no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”
The Senate resolution introduced last week “finds the promised actions outlined by President Donald J. Trump at his January 11, 2017, press conference wholly inadequate and insufficient to ensure compliance with the Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution.”
Reports show that foreign countries, companies, and businesses are beginning to take advantage of the President’s continued connection to his businesses in order to possibly curry favor or apply pressure, including in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and China.
This resolution builds on Bennet’s previous efforts to demand President Trump fully divest his personal financial conflicts of interest. In January, he introduced the Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act. He also sent a letter to the White House requesting clarity on President Trump’s efforts to minimize conflicts of interest.
Click HERE for the full text of the bill.