Tuesday, December 27, 2016

The Emoluments Clause?   WTF is that?

From Dictionary.com
[ih-mol-yuh-muh nt]
noun
profit, salary, or fees from office or employment; compensation for services: Tips are an emolument in addition to wages. Synonyms: earnings, pay, recompense, stipend, honorarium

“The President Can’t Have a Conflict of Interest”
Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the constitution states that no American officeholder 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.”  
More details about the Emoluments clause here
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"Foreign interference in the American political system was among the gravest dangers feared by the Founders of our nation and the framers of our Constitution.   The United States was a new government, and one that was vulnerable to manipulation by the great and wealthy world powers (which then, as now, included Russia).   One common tactic that foreign sovereigns, and their agents, used to influence our officials was to give them gifts, money, and other things of value.   In response to this practice, and the self-evident threat it represents, the framers included in the Constitution the Emoluments Clause of Article I, Section 9.   It prohibits any “Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States]” from accepting “any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”   Only explicit congressional consent validates such exchanges.

It is widely accepted that Mr. Trump’s presidency will present a variety of conflicts issues,many of them arising from his far flung domestic and global business activities.   Some will involve Mr. Trump personally, while others will involve his administration."
More about the Emoluments clause here!

Consider the following examples, drawn from the domestic sphere...

  • Over ten cases challenging Trump labor practices are pending before the National Labor Relations Board which has two vacancies, both to be filled by Trump.
  • The Internal Revenue Service is auditing Trump, who will soon pick its new chief.
  • The Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC is located in the Old Post Office and leased from the General Services Administration (GSA); once Trump takes office, he will be both landlord and tenant (an obvious conflict), and also will be in violation of the lease, which bars elected officials from sharing in any benefit.
  • Trump owes several hundred million dollars to banks, but is now responsible for selecting the next Treasury Secretary and may influence interest rate policy.
Rethuglicans...this is what you wanted!   This is what you got!   Enjoy!

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