Emolument Clause and Trump’s entanglements - collection of news stories

Our Founding Fathers were very concerned about foreign interests undermining the fidelity of United States government officials with a variety of financial incentives.  That is why they created the “Emolument Clause.”  Here is a collection of quotes and links to recent articles looking at various aspects of the Emolument Clause and how it relates to our soon to be president, the Russian Obligate, Donald Trump with his untold international business entanglements (Guess now we know another reason Trump continues hiding his tax returns.).  I do this in order to provide a one stop overview and reference resource regarding USA's wise Emolument Clause.  Feel free to copy and share.  

Democracy use it or lose it!  

I bring this up because you know those two faced Republicans are going to try and green-light Trump's shenanigans since they only care about their agenda and payouts are part of their game anyways, so it ain't no big thing.  To them!  Heck, they don't even care about Russians undermining our election, it's all business to them.

Besides, who's going to do anything to stop them? Democratic politicians?  Forget about it.  What can they accomplish without many, many thousands of your letters and phone calls in their pockets.  Democracy is a team effort!  Everyone has their roll to fulfill.  Can you help?  At the end of this collection I include a list of Democratic Senators' addresses and office phone numbers.

Also REMEMBER JANUARY 3RD - HELP SAVE OUR GOVERNMENT'S CHECKS AND BALANCES - LAST CHANCE TO GET JUDGE MERRICK GARLAND ONTO THE SUPREME COURT.  GIVE YOUR SENATOR A CALL.  

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https://definitions.uslegal.com/e/emolument-clause/

Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the U.S Constitution:  

“No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.”

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News Article Titles:

*  The Emoluments Clause: it’s text, meaning and application to Donald J. Trump

*  The Electoral College, the Constitution, and Trump's Conflicts of Interest

*  On Trump Conflicts, Don’t Forget The Other Emoluments Clause

*  Emoluments Clause Unlikely to Curb Trump’s Overseas Entanglements

*  New stash of legal opinions detail hurdles for Trump on emoluments ban

*  Conflicts on top of conflicts: Another “emoluments clause” that should bar Donald Trump from office

*  The Emoluments Clause — is Donald Trump violating its letter or spirit?

*  Donald Trump’s Business Dealings Test a Constitutional Limit

*  Donald Trump and the Emoluments Clause, explained

*  Trump's International Business Dealings Could Violate The Constitution

*  What is an emolument and why do we care?

*  One clause in the US Constitution could put Trump's foreign business connections in jeopardy

*  Donald Trump's Conflicts of Interest: A Crib Sheet

*  Democratic Senators of the 114th Congress - phone list

Congressional Research Service Report: Trump's Conflict of Interest, Ethics traps.

On November 22, the Congressional Research Service filed a report that identified nine federal conflict of interest and ethics provisions that could, if enforced, apply to the president.  

I believe this is valuable information for all who fear this rogue administration’s intentions and who understand that this 45th US Presidential Administration is something never before experienced in America.  A President who hates our government and who’s intent on waging a hostile insurgency dedicated to destroying our very way of government and remolding it into something more accommodating of his oligarch’s blind self-interested avarice.

Be afraid, be very afraid, but don’t fold, America needs defending now!  Can you help?  Only an informed and engaged citizenry will insure our Democratic politicians do the right thing as this nightmare unfolds in these next couple years.  Any ground we lose, won't be made up, America needs your participation now. 

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The following is a matter of public record, the reposting and sharing of full content is permissible.  

Other than adding links to the law titles, nothing has been added or removed.

Congressional Research Service

Informing the legislative debate since 1914

http://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/democrats.judiciary.house.gov/files/wysiwyg_uploaded/CRS%20Memo.President%20conflict%20provisions.pdf

MEMORANDUM November 22, 2016

Subject: Conflict of Interest and “Ethics” Provisions That May Apply to the President

From: Jack Maskell Legislative Attorney

American Law Division

This memorandum is intended to briefly identify those provisions of federal statute or regulation that [11] respect conflicts of interest or “ethics” and [2] may apply to the President. The memorandum begins by noting why certain provisions would appear to be inapplicable to the President. It then notes the remaining provisions that could potentially be seen to apply to the President.

The memorandum is solely concerned with the identification and, where relevant, discussion of the specific provisions. It is not intended to discuss whether and how particular provisions could potentially be enforced against the President, although it is important to note that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has previously opined that sitting Presidents are not subject to indictment for violations of federal criminal law. [1]

List of Trump's known conflicts of interest. Libby Nelson, VOX - REPOST

This one goes under the public's right to know.  Libby Nelson from VOX.com has taken the time to collect a list of (so-far) known Trump business entanglements.  A list every citizen ought to be familiar with.

America was tricked (by strategic and Russian fed, Breitbart circulated false advertising - along with systemic silence among those whom we trusted to protect America's interest) into voting for a Trojan Horse.  

Now it's like, hahaha suckers, catch us if you can!  Why wasn't all this made clear to Americans long ago?  What about all those oaths of office and supposed fealty to protect our US government as it exists, not as some believe their personal God wants it to look like!  

Who is going to defend America against this orchestrated hostile take-over by the oligarchs who already had way the hell too much power and too little awareness of the realities of this planet we depend on for everything?  

The following is a complete REPOST of what to me seems critically important information that every citizen ought to be aware of.  Doing my part, but it's going to require thousands of points of light if we are to confront the storming horde of self-interested oligarchs.

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All of Donald Trump’s known conflicts of interest in one place

http://www.vox.com/2016/12/9/13799904/trump-corruption-conflict-of-interest

Updated by Libby Nelson | Dec 13, 2016, 5:24pm EST

When Americans talk about corruption in politics, they usually mean the outsize influence corporations and the wealthy can exert in politics through campaign donations.

But President-elect Donald Trump’s administration risks a much more direct type of corruption, where the end goal is not donations to a reelection campaign but personal enrichment for the president himself. Trump’s massive business empire — towering skyscrapers and sprawling golf courses, menswear and furniture, and his licensing of his personal “brand” around the world — promises endless entanglements of business and politics.

And we do not know the extent of the problem. Trump refuses to release his tax returns or disclose information about his debts. He’s structured and nested his companies to make it difficult to determine who owns something as simple as a helicopter. For every obvious conflict, there could be many more that aren’t even public.

Sunshine Foundation - Trump's Conflicts of Interests

What an amazing thing its been watching events unfold and now the Trump, who undertook this race as a ego boost, is thumbing his nose at the White House, and in fact the Office of the President of the United States of American itself.

The disappointment of watching so many falling in line and even more remaining down right oblivious - it dawned on me that he truly is the future.  Good bye United States of American and hello Corporation of Amerika, with Trump her CEO having one hell of a party with his pals.  

Here I share information from a group, that to borrow their words, is a nonpartisan nonprofit that advocates for open government globally and uses technology to make government more accountable to all.   Tough charge, that one is.

A Trump presidency must be free of business entanglements

Sunshine Foundation

by Alex Howard   |  NOV 18, 2016  |  on policy

http://sunlightfoundation.com/2016/11/18/a-trump-presidency-must-be-free-of-business-entanglements/

The Sunlight Foundation is a nonpartisan nonprofit that advocates for open government globally and uses technology to make government more accountable to all.

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As the text of the letter makes clear, continuing on the current course has the potential to devastate public trust in government even further from its current woeful state, provide foreign governments with an obvious means to influence the presidency, and bedevil the White House with lawsuits.

The nature and diversity of the Trump Organization businesses mean that a wide range of government policy has direct impact on those businesses. This includes important domestic matters related to tax policy, standards for government contractors, consumer protection, the functioning of the civil justice system, financial regulation, labor rights and workplace safety and health standards, and bankruptcy law. 

Matters of foreign policy are also implicated because of the global reach of the Trump Organization. The American people need to know that when you are making decisions concerning our allies or our adversaries, you are not doing so because they are allies or adversaries of your businesses.