Congressman Cohen Condemns Trump Self-Dealing

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, condemned what appears to be a new violation of the U.S. Constitution's anti-corruption provision by President Trump, citing press accounts that the federal government spent 50,000 British pounds ($68,800) or, by one estimate, as much as $200,000, at the Trump-owned Turnberry golf resort in Scotland last weekend in advance of the Helsinki summit. Congressman Cohen has repeatedly sought to amend annual spending bills to prohibit federal spending at Trump-owned businesses by federal agencies and departments, including this week's Interior Department appropriations bill, because he contends such spending violates the Constitution's anti-corruption provision that prohibits any president from receiving any federal money beyond his salary. Each of the spending bill amendments this year have been prevented from getting a floor vote by the House Majority.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"This outrageous and overt violation of the Constitution should not pass without consequences. As a member of Congress, it is my duty to protect and defend the Constitution, including the anti-corruption provision that states a president ‘shall not receive' any payment from the federal government beyond his salary. Since President Trump has been in office, his businesses have received tens of thousands of dollars from federal agencies in direct violation of that prohibition while his party's leaders appear unconcerned. This willful violation at the resort in Scotland, abetted by the Trump State Department, is unjustifiable."

Congressman Cohen has also introduced Articles of Impeachment against the President, which cite, among others, his violations of the anti-corruption provision known as the domestic emoluments clause.

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