Obama Ethics Czar Says Trump’s Fundraiser At His Own Hotel Is ‘Illegal’
President Obama’s former top ethics lawyer has accused Donald Trump of holding an “illegal” fundraiser at his Washington DC hotel.
In a series of scathing tweets, former Special Counsel for Ethics and Government Reform Norm Eisen made the case that Donald Trump’s reelection fundraiser violates the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the Constitution because it is held at one of the hotels owned by a Trump company.
1/ Trump Hotel fundraiser is illegal. His benefitting from leasing this US property violates the domestic emoluments clause of US Const.
— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) June 29, 2017
2/ And the government’s refusal to enforce hotel lease term which prohibits him from operating hotel ALSO makes 2nite an illegal emolument
— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) June 29, 2017
3/ So anytime he profits from the hotel, as he is doing tonight, he is violating the domestic emoluments clause.
— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) June 29, 2017
4/ Trump monetizes his office constantly. But tonight a new low: he’s collecting cash from being president, from hotel, &from his party.
— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) June 29, 2017
5/5 All in violation of the constitution. Maybe that’s why he yanked the press pool at the last minute? Well WE SEE YOU — in court that is
— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) June 29, 2017
The Domestic Emoluments Clause prevents the president from receiving any payment or gift from the federal government on top of his government salary and is separate from the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution.
Eisen is arguing that by allowing Donald Trump to hold a fundraising event for his personal reelection campaign at the hotel, he is violating both the Domestic Emoluments Clause and the terms of his real estate company’s lease with the federal government.
[image via screenshot]
