WASHINGTON – In a joint statement, United States Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) responded to President-elect Donald Trump's announcement today that he will not follow precedent by divesting his assets by placing them in a blind trust.
“President-elect Trump’s plan to address his financial conflicts of interest boils down to this: he will continue to own his massive business interests while serving as President of the United States. That means every tweet, statement, meeting, policy, executive order, bill signing, or other decision will present a fresh opportunity for President-elect Trump to line his pockets at the expense of the American people. That is unacceptable, and it risks violating the Constitution the moment President-elect Trump takes the oath of office. If President-elect Trump really wants to put America first, he must completely eliminate his financial conflicts of interest by fully divesting his assets by placing them in a true blind trust or the equivalent,” the Senators said.
Democratic members of Congress introduced the Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2017 on January 9, 2017 in the House and Senate.
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