The President-Elect's Real Estate Holdings are Dangerous for the American Economy and National S
Tell your representative to block Trump's cabinet appointees or use the Constitution's Emoluments Clause to ensure the President-Elect doesn't profit by putting the American economy or security at risk!
THE ISSUE:
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Find out who your representative in congress is by entering your zip code here: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/.
You can also find your senator here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?Name=Capito&nState=WV
2. Copy and paste the letter below, personalizing it for your representative. Add a note of your own if you want!
3. Send a copy to your representative's local office. Send one to your senator, too!
4. Mailing a hard copy of your letter is the most effective way to to get your representatives' attention. Congressional staffers say letters that include a handwritten component or something written/illustrated by children receive more eyeballs than form letters or petitions. (But an email is (probably) better than nothing.)
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear Representative [X]:
I, your constituent [from X district] am writing with concerns that President-Elect Trump’s business holdings present conflicts of interest that at best serve as a distraction from his duties as President, and at worst pose a risk to our nation’s economic function and national security.
One large conflict of interest is President-Elect Trump’s real estate holdings. The Trump hotel in Washington DC presents myriad conflicts, for example. First, Mr. Trump’s attempt to organize “special deals” for foreign diplomats represents an unconstitutional tangle of personal and state business. Diplomats have already expressed feeling pressured to stay in the President-Elect’s hotel, and there are concerns that Mr. Trump might use knowledge of who’s staying where as a factor in his foreign affairs decisions, in addition to personally making money from diplomats’ visits.
Second, given the building housing the DC hotel is owned by the federal government, Mr. Trump will, come January 21, effectively be both landlord and tenant in the building. Vigilance is required to ensure that this situation is not taken advantage of.
Mr. Trump’s real estate holdings abroad present an even greater cause for concern. The President-Elect stands to profit from projects-in-progress now in Saudi Arabia, India, the Philippines, and Uruguay, all locations that, should Mr. Trump put his private business first, would result in backdoor dealings that could affect economic, climate, and national security decisions internationally and here at home. This is to say nothing of the countries in which Trump Towers already exist—in Turkey, for example, where relations are reportedly already sour between the President-Elect and Prime Minister Erdogan because of a business deal. Mr. Trump has shown no signs of stopping the proliferation of these conflicts; indeed, he’s already used his power as President-Elect to receive approval for an office tower in Buenos Aires after a call with the President of Argentina. We the American people are left in the dark about what he may have offered President Mauricio in exchange for his personal gain.
Given that the President-Elect already knows what deals are in the works, and in which countries he owns properties, a trust run by his children, or even a “blind trust” would be effectively useless in ensuring his decisions are not swayed by his development holdings. Total divestment and the employment of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution are the only true safeguards we have against these conflicts.
The President-Elect has already shown the desire to use his position of power to further his business interests. Therefore, the checks and balances of the House and Senate are now paramount. As such, I’m asking that you do whatever it takes as our representative to prevent the corruption of America’s highest office, including placing holds on cabinet appointees until divestment is complete, enacting the Emoluments Clause to give Congress the power to vet decisions when necessary (or move for impeachment if the President refuses to act in accordance with the Constitution), and continuing to call for the release of the President-Elect’s tax information so the American people have a full understanding of what’s at stake.
I appreciate you taking my concerns into consideration and do hope that you will continue to make the integrity of the Constitution and the common good of the American people your top priorities.
Sincerely,