Mar 9, 2017 - Politics & Policy

Watchdogs target Trump Organization

Watchdog groups are now homing in on the Trump Organization rather than Trump himself.

Democracy 21's Fred Wertheimer, a veteran of the campaign finance world, lays out the complaint:

"Democracy 21, joined by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and the Campaign Legal Center ... called on the U.S Attorney for the Southern District in New York to take steps to prevent The Trump Organization from receiving any financial benefits from foreign governments that benefit President Trump and do not comply with the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. President Trump's refusal to give up ownership of The Trump Organization has resulted in any benefits the Trump Organization receives from foreign governments inuring to Trump."

Why this matters: Trump is going to face an endless stream of litigation throughout his presidency, but he's personally immune from conflict-of-interest attacks because of the unique status of the President. His company, however, is fair game.

Wertheimer explains the strategy: "The groups are focused on action being taken against The Trump Organization and not against Trump... We have gone to the U.S Attorney for the Southern District where The Trump Organization has its headquarters. U.S. Attorney Bharara and the Southern District office have reputations for independence and taking action regardless of the politics involved."

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