Norm Eisen: President’s Conflicts Scandal
on Tuesday, January 24, 2017Norm Eisen the former top ethics adviser to President Barack Obama Money Quote saying that Trump is breaking the law and flaunting the emoluments clause of the constitution by not divesting of his business and financial interests. Norm Eisen said:
“Normally, the fact that a foreign agent, a registered foreign agent was paying money to the President of the United States, would create blaring headlines around the world, but so vast and scandalous are the President’s conflicts of interest that it hardly raises an eyebrow” — Norm Eisen
“No Person holding any Office of Profit of Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept any pre-sent, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State”
– U.S. Constitution: Art. I, Sec. 9, Clause 8
Share the Norm Eisen Money quote image above on your site:
Short Link to this Quote:
Norman Eisen is arguing that it would normally be a huge scandal if a foreign agent was paying money to the U.S. President. However, in the case of President Trump, his conflicts of interest through his business entanglements are so extensive that payments from foreign agents hardly get noticed anymore.
By saying Trump’s conflicts are “so vast and scandalous”, Eisen is asserting that the President has not properly divested or separated himself from his financial interests as required by the Emoluments Clause.
In Eisen’s view, the Clause is intended to prevent foreign payments or benefits from influencing the President or distracting from important oversight of foreign relationships.