Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is a long-time champion of progressive causes. She is also an outspoken Trump critic, often lambasting him in speeches and social media posts. So it’s no surprise that she is one of five Democratic senators working on a new bill that would force President-elect Donald Trump to divest any interests that could pose a conflict of interest and put the proceeds into a blind trust.
In tandem with the bill, Warren also published a “Conflict of Interests Fact Sheet” on her website. She and the other Democrats working on this bill are demonstrating that they will fight for the interests of the country, even if it means clashing with the President-elect. And that is something we need in our leaders.
The Bill
In addition to Warren, the other senators working on the bill are Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)
The bill itself largely focuses on the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. Outside of Constitutional experts, most people don’t know about this clause. But it could mean that Trump is not allowed to receive any money from his businesses that are owned or controlled by foreign governments. Warren’s fact sheet explains:
“Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution prohibits officeholders, including the President, from ‘accept[ing] any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, price, or foreign state.’ Experts have concluded that ‘[c]orporations owned or controlled by a foreign government are presumptively foreign states under the Emoluments Clause.'”
Obviously, Trump’s plan to transfer control of his businesses to his sons is not sufficient. Even the Office of Government Ethics, a nonpartisan group, has said that this move does not eliminate conflicts of interest. That’s why the bill is calling for any violation to entail:
“…A high crime or misdemeanor under the impeachment clause of the U.S. Constitution.”
While some moderate Democrats are willing to work with Trump, Warren appears concerned that nothing about his agenda represents what is good for the country. As she said in a statement:
“The American people deserve to know that the president of the United States is working to do what’s best for the country — not using his office to do what’s best for himself and his businesses.”
And that is why — as of now — she and these other Democrats are working to keep Trump in check, not find common ground with him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg5MYVhu0mI
Featured Image by AFGE via Flickr/CC BY 2.0
