The President-Elect Must Not Profit from Having a Secret Service Detail [Letter Template]
Tell your representative to block Trump's cabinet appointees or use the Constitution's Emoluments Clause to ensure the President-Elect doesn't profit off the American people!
THE ISSUE: The President-elect has already billed the Secret Service for their use of TAG Airlines. Let's make sure he doesn't continue to pocket taxpayer money.
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 are already enabling him to turn American taxpayer dollars into personal profit.
The President-elect has currently billed the Secret Service over a million dollars for use of the TAG Airlines planes he used while campaigning, and he shows no signs of stopping. While it is customary for the Secret Service to reimburse a company from whom they rent space or equipment, it is unprecedented that the President-elect own that company, and therefore profit himself. The fact that President-elect Trump is paid with taxpayer dollars for his own travel, is, at best, a nepotistic bonus for him and his business, and at worst directly influences decisions about his movement throughout the country.
Relatedly, Trump Tower in New York City is now billing Secret Service protection as an "amenity" of the building. This calls into question whether the President-elect's wife has made the unheard of choice to remain in the city after the inauguration, or if it is yet another move to further the Trump brand.
The Secret Service is paid for by the nation's taxpayers. For the President-elect to effectively pocket a portion of that money, as well as use the Service to elevate his own real estate, is an unprecedented and illegal conflict of interest, and a blight of corruption on the Republican party and the office of President itself.
The President-Elect has shown and acted upon the desire to use his position of power to further his business interests numerous times already. Therefore, the checks and balances of the House and Senate are now paramount. Further, as Mr. Trump possesses intimate knowledge of his own properties (and properties-to-be), a trust run by his children, or even a “blind trust” would, at this stage, be effectively useless in ensuring his decisions are not swayed by his holdings. Total divestment and the employment of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution are the only true safeguards we have against these conflicts.
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 (and our hard-earned money) your top priorities.
Sincerely,