Literally seconds after Donald Trump took the oath as president, he was already facing a drive to pressure Congress to impeach him. Why? His stated plans to turn over control of the Trump Organization to a blind trust overseen by his sons would still leave him with controlling interest. He would therefore still get many of the proceeds from his real estate empire’s deals with foreign governments and state-owned companies–a violation of the Emoluments Clause, which bars federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments.
Trump announced the transfer of control with great fanfare at his now-infamous press conference on January 11, even showing several stacks of documents that he claimed were the legal proof he had kept his end of the bargain. However, ProPublica discovered that more than a week later–and literally three hours after the formal transfer of power–there was no evidence that Trump had filed the required paperwork to officially turn “complete and total control” of the Trump Organization to his sons.
Apparently ProPublica’s Derek Kravitz and Al Shaw had their spidey senses triggered when the Trump transition team didn’t allow reporters to view the documents. Apparently they expected us to take his word for it–just like they expect us to take Trump’s word for it that he drew the yuuugest inauguration crowd ever. They called officials in New York, the Trump Organization’s longtime home state; Delaware, where most of his businesses are registered; and Florida, home to several valuable Trump properties.
Business records for Trump Organization LLC, Trump’s flagship company, have yet to be updated with the New York Department of State. Ditto for Wollman Rink Operations, which runs the famous Central Park rink. Trump is part of a consortium that operates the rink, and as of Friday was still listed as the consortium’s sole authorized representative.
The Trump International Hotel Washington, the luxury hotel in Washington’s Old Post Office Pavilion that first triggered questions about Trump’s foreign conflicts of interest, is operated by a consortium controlled by the Trumps, which is registered in Delaware. Records from that state reveal that no changes or amendments have been filed for four companies related to the Old Post Office. Ivanka Trump is still listed as the authorized officer for two of them, OPO Hotel Manager LLC and OPO Hotel Manager Member LLC. One of Trump’s other properties in the capital, the Trump National Golf Club Washington, is also incorporated in Delaware. The most recent filings for that golf course were made over a year ago.
Most of Trump’s golf courses are controlled by DJT Holdings, a Florida corporation. However, the most recent filings for DJT Holdings were in the spring of 2016–and Donald Trump is still listed as the president. The last filings for the Trump International Golf Club Tampa and the Mar-a-Lago Club resort were made in January 2016, and still list Trump as the managing partner.
When Richard Painter, George W. Bush’s chief ethics counsel, learned about this, he essentially rolled his eyes. Painter, who has helped lead the charge to shine the hot lights on Trump’s disregard for the Emoluments Clause, said that was clear that Trump’s people were “not doing what they said they would do.” However, he reminded ProPublica that even Trump’s proposed plan was a “completely inadequate” solution to the emoluments issue.
Norman Eisen, Barack Obama’s former chief ethics counsel, revealed why Trump’s plan was so inadequate–there were “1,000 unanswered questions” about the trust supposedly overseen by Trump’s sons. And they seem pretty basic–like whether there will be an ethics monitor, as well as the basic terms of the trust.
Trump certainly has a lot of experience with corporate filings. But if he couldn’t find the time in the week between his press conference and the inauguration to have his lawyers make the required filings, it’s only fair to ask–did he ever intend to do so? If he did and just forgot, he’d better hurry up and do it quickly. And even then, it might be time for Congressman Jamie Raskin to get his articles of impeachment ready.
(featured image courtesy Noah Gray, CNN)
