It’s Time for Hearings on Trump Administration Ethics

Common Cause Pushing Rep. Chaffetz to Act

“Rampant conflicts of interest, apparent violations of the Constitution’s emoluments clause, and ethics violations by President Trump, his staff and his family” demand a thorough examination and hearings by congressional investigators, Common Cause said in a letter today to the chairman of a key House committee.

“Every elected official must be accountable to their constituents and the President of the United States is no exception,” said Karen Hobert Flynn, Common Cause President. Her letter to Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-UT, chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, urges the committee to obtain and release details on the finances and operations of the more than 500 businesses owned by President Trump and the names of individuals or entities holding debt owed by the Trump organizations.

Potential violations of the emoluments clause also require investigation by the Committee, the letter argues.

“The Chairman owes it to the American people to hold the Executive Branch accountable regardless of whether the President is a Democrat or a Republican,” Hobert Flynn said.

The letter said the committee should also address the President’s refusal to release copies of his tax returns and his failure to follow the example set by his predecessors by filing a personal financial disclosure report shortly after taking office. The Committee is also urged to secure details of the Trump Organization’s business arrangements with the President’s children and immediate family members. The letter emphasizes that details of the arrangements made by the President to fulfill his pledge to cease new overseas business ventures must be made public to ensure compliance.

To read Common Cause’s press release on the letter, click here.