The news cycle this week has actually been relatively subdued, at least when it comes to controversies involving President Donald Trump and the Russian government. Of course, that doesn't mean there haven't been conflicts of interest that have come to our attention.
The president used his Twitter feed to promote a Fox News pundit's pro-Trump book
It isn't surprising that Fox News' Eric Bolling has published a new book called "The Swamp," which is named after Trump's famous campaign slogan to "drain the swamp in Washington." That said, it's pretty unorthodox and inappropriate for a president to openly hawk the literary business ventures of his allies quite as shamelessly as the president did.
Trump Hotels is breaking the president's promise not to engage in more foreign deals
As reporter Kate Brannen for Just Security pointed out on Twitter, the website for Trump Hotels claims the company is "actively expanding its portfolio of award-winning luxury hotels and resorts and seeking global opportunities for the best developments in key destinations to add to our renowned portfolio." This contradicts a promise made in January by Trump lawyer Sheri Dillon that "no new foreign deals will be made whatsoever during the duration of President Trump's presidency."
Trump shouldn't be holding fundraising events at his own hotel
It's pretty unseemly for a president barely half a year into his first term already campaigning for reelection. That said, Trump's decision to hold a 2020 election fundraiser at the Trump International Hotel in Washington is being blasted by ethics watchdog Norm Eisen as a blatant conflict of interest.
"Trump Hotel fundraiser is illegal. His benefitting from leasing this US property violates the domestic emoluments clause of US Const," Eisen explained on Twitter. He elaborated, "And the government's refusal to enforce hotel lease term which prohibits him from operating hotel ALSO makes 2nite an illegal emolument. So anytime he profits from the hotel, as he is doing tonight, he is violating the domestic emoluments clause."
He added, "Trump monetizes his office constantly. But tonight a new low: he's collecting cash from being president, from hotel, &from his party."
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