CREW, Democracy 21 and CLC send Trump Organization emoluments letter to Preet Bharara, then Joon Kim

CREW, along with Democracy 21 and the Campaign Legal Center, sent a letter to Attorney General (AG) for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara requesting that he undertake an investigation to determine if the Trump Organization LLC, the Trump Organization, Inc., and any related Trump businesses based in the Southern District of New York are receiving payments and financial benefits from former governments that benefit President Donald Trump and that do not comply with Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution, or the “Foreign Emoluments Clause.”

Published reports indicated that the Trump Organization and related Trump business entities have been receiving payments and other benefits from foreign government sources which benefit President Trump through his ownership of the Trump Organization and related Trump business entities. These payments and benefits include, but are not limited to: brand trademarks in China approved soon after President Trump won the election; the tenancy of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) in the Trump Tower in New York City; foreign diplomats staying in the Washington, D.C. Trump International Hotel, and foreign governments planning to host events therein; and the various international real estate and licensing projects by President Trump’s various business entities.

These reports provide multiple examples of the world-wide business enterprises owned by President Trump that are receiving payments and financial benefits from foreign governmental interests that benefit President Trump in his continuing capacity as the owner of the Trump Organization and related Trump business enterprises.