Sarbanes Slams Trump Announcement to Renege on Promise to Donate Profits from Foreign Guests

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  In January, rather than divest from his business interests as was common practice among his predecessors, President-elect Trump made a promise to donate all Trump Organization profits from foreign patrons in an effort to comply with the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause. The Trump Organization recently responded to a bipartisan request from the House Oversight Committee, which asked for documentation on the how the plan was being implemented.

The so-called “plan” – contained within a 9 page glossy pamphlet – wholly rejects prior promises made by the President to donate all foreign profits, explaining the “guest experience” is more important than abiding by the Constitution.

“President Trump and the Trump Organization believe they can make a mockery of our Constitution,” said Rep. Sarbanes, Chair of the Democracy Reform Task Force. “In January, President-elect Trump promised he would donate all foreign profits to the U.S. Treasury, so as to comply with the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause. This was always an insufficient and transparent attempt to placate the public, constitutional experts and Congressional leaders who expressed concern about the divided loyalties that may arise from Trump’s failure to divest from his many business holdings.”

“Now, comes news the Trump Organization is reneging on that meager pledge, citing concerns that doing so might compromise the ‘guest experience’ at his properties. In effect, the Trump Organization – and by extension the President himself – is telling the American people the Constitution is subordinate to his financial interests and the ‘guest experience’ of foreign patrons at Trump properties.  President Trump must either divest from the Trump Organization or ask for Congressional consent to receive these improper foreign payments.”

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