Congressman Cohen Introduces Measure to Prohibit Federal Funds Being Spent at Trump Properties
Effort to enforce the Constitution’s Emoluments clauses violated during his first term
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today introduced the Constitutional Emoluments Protection of American Interests Act, a measure to prohibit federal funds being used at any property owned, managed by, or under the control of former and future President Donald J. Trump.
As early as November 2017, Congressman Cohen cited violations of the emoluments clauses in his articles of impeachment against Trump. In April 2019, Congressman Cohen led a letter with 40 House members asking Appropriations Committee members to include language prohibiting the use of federal funds at businesses owned by Trump. Legislatively, starting in 2017, and continuing through Trump’s first term in office, Congressman Cohen offered amendments to appropriations bills blocking federal funds from going to Trump Organization properties.
In October of last year, Congressman Cohen endorsed the conclusion of the House Oversight Committee that Trump violated the emoluments clauses by receiving “ethically suspect payments” through his lease of the Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue. Trump no longer leases the facility.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
“Our recently minted felon-in-chief was already a grifter during his first term and clearly violated the Constitution’s emoluments clauses. Some mechanism needs to be in place to prohibit his continued scoffing at Constitutional provisions designed to prevent corruption and self-dealing. This measure should place in check the future president’s misuse of his office for private gain at least in the realm of federal funding at his properties. It’s unfortunate that such a measure is necessary, but we’ve had our eyes opened by this self-serving man.”
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