An emolument is a payment in return for the performance of the duties of an office or employment. Enacted in 1810, the Emoluments Clause in our Constitution prohibits federal officeholders from receiving any gift, payment, or anything of value from a foreign state or its rulers, officers or representatives. Our Founding Fathers were very worried about undue influence from individual U.S. states or foreign governments attempting to bribe our federal officeholders. Critics claim former President Trump repeatedly violated the Emoluments Clause by retaining ownership and control of his sprawling business empire rather than turning over its control to a third party as is normally done. Recent records show at least 40 occasions where the Trump Organization charged the Secret Service as much as $1,185 per room to stay at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. – nearly six times the government recommended rate of $200. Records also show Saudi Arabia lobbyists spent $270,000, or $768 per night, on 500 rooms over three months at this hotel within a month of Trump’s 2016 election. The president of Ukraine later tried to curry favor with President Trump by mentioning that he patronized Trump’s business. Critics say that beyond the exorbitant expense to taxpayers, these transactions call into question of whether a conflict of interest existed in the duties performed by our former President. However, enforcement provisions of Emoluments Clause violations are vague and insufficient.

Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of S.3181 - Foreign and Domestic Emoluments Enforcement Act (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (CT)

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