A bill has been introduced by Democrat lawmakers that aims to prevent the president and other top officials from accepting payments from foreign governments. The bill, brought forth by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), seeks to enforce the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause, which prohibits the president from receiving gifts and payments from foreign governments without congressional approval.
The bill would prohibit federal officeholders, including the president, vice president, Cabinet officials, members of Congress, and other senior officials, from accepting foreign payments while in office and for two years after leaving office, unless Congress grants an exception. Any foreign payment received in violation of the legislation would be seized and forfeited to the United States.
In cases of violations, the president and other officials could face imprisonment and fines of up to $50,000. The attorney general would also be authorized to take legal action against offending individuals.
This legislative action comes after a report by House Oversight Committee Democrats revealed that former President Donald Trump received $7.8 million from 20 governments during his time in office. The report alleged that these payments influenced Trump’s foreign policy decisions, such as his choice not to sanction the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), a tenant in Trump Tower.
The Trump Organization has refuted the report, calling the claims about Trump’s business dealings “insane.” A spokesperson for the organization emphasized that ICBC had been a tenant at Trump Tower since 2008, long before Trump took office. The organization also stated that they track payments from foreign governments and donate them to the U.S. Treasury Department annually.
The bill introduced by Democrat lawmakers aims to prevent future instances of officials using their positions for personal gain, emphasizing the importance of upholding ethical standards in government.
Please rephrase
Source link
