Velazquez Calls for Hearings on Trump Conflicts of Interest

Washington, DC – Today Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) called for Congressional hearings into whether President-elect Trump’s financial interests pose potential conflicts of interest once he takes office.

In a letter to Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Velázquez said that the Committee should convene hearings in the new Congress before the President-elect is inaugurated.

The full text of the letter is below.

December 16, 2016

The Honorable Jason Chaffetz
Chairman
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
2157 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Chaffetz:

I urge you to convene a hearing before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to investigate potential business conflicts of interest that may arise in the incoming Trump Administration. It is my belief that such a hearing should occur within the first weeks of the 115th Congress and before the President-elect is inaugurated.

As you know, Mr. Trump and his companies have substantial commercial relationships spanning the globe. Should Mr. Trump fail to fully divest from his business organizations while in the White House, this arrangement raises troubling questions about whether the incoming President might be influenced by personal financial interests.

While the President of the United States is legally exempted from many conflict-of-interest statutes, most previous Presidents with significant financial interests have placed their business assets into a blind trust. Members of Congress strive to identify and steer away from potential conflicts of interest and they are legally required to fill out financial disclosure forms. This disclosure, provided by all Members of Congress, contains information “summarizing financial information concerning themselves, their spouses, and dependent children… these statements must disclose outside compensation, investments and assets, and business transactions.”

By contrast, President-Elect Trump has refused to release his taxes and has postponed an official announcement about his plans for his business interests, while he is in office. Such actions are not only unacceptable—they undermine our democratic principles of government and cast doubt on the legitimacy of policy decisions that will be made by the incoming Administration.

It is imperative the American people know whether their newly elected president has business relationships that potentially influence domestic and foreign policy. Mr. Trump has previously talked about unifying our country. This can only be achieved with trust and transparency, requiring a complete review and disclosure of any and all business interests.

You and your committee can play a major role in accomplishing this goal.

I look forward to your timely response.

Sincerely,


Nydia M. Velázquez
Member of Congress

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