Raskin Politely Reminds Trump: Foreign Cash Gifts Aren't A Souvenir, Return Policy Applies.
Jamie Raskin Asks Donald Trump To Return $7.8 Million He Received From Foreign Governments
Rep. Raskin has a genius idea: Trump should return the $7.8 million in foreign love notes his hotels received while he was president. Trump's defense? Oh, just that it was chump change for services rendered. 🤑 Raskin isn't buying it, pointing out that the Constitution isn't a fan of foreign gifts, whether big or small.
Surprise, surprise! Trump's "voluntary donation" policy was as effective as a leaky umbrella, covering only some properties and payments. Raskin's suggestion? Pay back the $7.8 million and spill the beans on every foreign dime received during his presidential reign. But hey, Trump insists he won the emoluments cases, conveniently forgetting they were tossed out like yesterday's tweets.
Meanwhile, Republicans are on a quest to impeach Biden over alleged foreign cash flows. Spoiler alert: No evidence found. Raskin, armed with facts, drops the mic, highlighting Trump's hefty $5.5 million from China. Talk about foreign affairs! 🌐💰
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has demanded that former President Donald Trump return $7.8 million received from foreign governments during his presidency, citing a violation of the U.S. Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause. Raskin's letter, released on Friday, emphasizes Trump's admission of foreign payments to his Trump Organization, particularly for hotel stays, during a Fox News town hall. Despite Trump's claim that these were payments for services rendered, Raskin asserts that such transactions breach the Emoluments Clause, which prohibits officers of the United States from accepting anything of value from foreign governments without Congressional consent.
During his presidency, Trump maintained control of his business empire through a revocable trust led by his sons. A report by Raskin and House Oversight Committee Democrats revealed $7.8 million in payments from foreign governments to Trump's businesses, violating the constitutional clause. Trump and his sons justified these payments as compensation for services, pledging to donate profits to the U.S. Treasury. However, this policy was selective, covering only certain properties and payments.
Raskin criticizes Trump's "voluntary donation" policy as insufficient, pointing out its underinclusiveness and lack of audit or inspection. The Emoluments Clause explicitly prohibits the receipt of anything of value from foreign governments, not just profits. Raskin calls for Trump to repay the $7.8 million to the U.S. Treasury and provide a comprehensive account of all payments, benefits, or emoluments received from foreign governments during his presidency.
While Trump faced legal challenges on this matter during his presidency, the cases were declared moot by the Supreme Court in 2021 after he left office. Despite this, Trump falsely claimed victory in the emoluments cases during the recent Fox News town hall.
Raskin's demand for repayment coincides with Republican attempts to impeach President Joe Biden over alleged foreign payments through his son, Hunter Biden. However, Raskin highlights the absence of evidence supporting such claims against Biden and underscores Trump's documented receipt of substantial payments, including $5.5 million from China.
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