Watchdog Groups Resubmit Letter to Acting SDNY U.S Attorney to Take Steps to Prevent Trump Org. from Receiving Foreign Emoluments That Benefit Trump

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Democracy 21, joined by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and the Campaign Legal Center, sent a letter today to Joon H. Kim, the acting head of the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

The letter resubmitted to Kim a request the watchdog groups sent last week to then U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara that called on the U.S. Attorney’s office to take steps to prevent The Trump Organization and related Trump businesses from receiving any financial benefits from foreign governments that benefit President Trump and do not comply with the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution.

Preet Bharara was fired as United States Attorney for the Southern District this past weekend. The Trump Organization has its headquarters in the Southern District of New York and, therefore, is under the jurisdiction of the of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

The letter said: 

Our letter set forth facts on the public record that present a powerful case that The Trump Organization and related Trump business entities have received payments or other financial benefits from foreign governments that benefit President Donald Trump, as owner of the businesses, and that do not comply with the Constitution’s “Foreign Emoluments Clause.” 

Our letter called on the Southern District office to conduct an investigation of these matters and to take whatever steps maybe necessary against The Trump Organization and related Trump businesses to prevent them from serving as a vehicle for foreign governments to provide payments or other financial benefits that benefit President Trump in violation of the Emoluments Clause. 

The letter stated:

Since we sent our letter last week, published reports have stated that China has granted a new valuable financial benefit to President Trump’s businesses in the form of “preliminary approval for at least 38 Trump trademarks for businesses ranging from hotels and spas to animal training and weather forecasting. . . .” This is an additional matter that should be examined. 

According to the letter: 

Preet Bharara and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District have long been known for their independent, nonpartisan approach to law enforcement and for their willingness to follow the facts wherever they lead. 

We urge you to continue this longstanding approach in dealing with The Trump Organization matter we have submitted to your office. 

The letter concluded: 

In this light, our organizations call on you as Deputy U.S. Attorney and as acting head of the Southern District office to expeditiously pursue an investigation of The Trump Organization and related Trump business entities. We urge you to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent these business entities from serving as a vehicle to provide illegal Emoluments provided by foreign governments to benefit President Trump. 

We also urge you to inform the public if any efforts are made to impede or block an investigation or action of this matter by the Justice Department or the White House.