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Home Democrats know that Republicans are already squirming over Trump’s willingness to simply accept a $400 million bribe from Qatar, so that they have launched a decision demanding that Trump get the approval of Congress earlier than accepting the airplane.
The decision states partly:
Whereas acceptance of the Qatari plane with out the permission of Congress would clearly violate the International Emoluments Clause, whereas additionally posing vital nationwide safety risks, together with, not solely by way of the corruption and illegitimate affect that the framers anticipated, but additionally by way of substantial further dangers of espionage in opposition to and surveillance of the President and different senior United States Authorities officers;
and Whereas President Trump remarked that this unprecedented and lavish reward from a international state would end in ‘‘huge financial savings [that] will likely be spent, as an alternative, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!’’, however, in actual fact, it will not exchange the present contract for retrofitting and modernizing Air Pressure One, and would as an alternative require tons of of tens of millions or billions of {dollars} in new Federal Authorities and taxpayer funding to retrofit and debug this reward from an autocratic international state:
Now, due to this fact, be it Resolved,
That it’s the sense of the Home of Representatives that President Trump should adjust to the International Emoluments Clause by submitting all plans for this reward imme diately to Congress; and if he needs to simply accept the ‘‘flying palace’’ from the royal household of Qatar as he says publicly he wish to do, acquiring the consent of Congress earlier than doing so.
Rep. Raskin mentioned in a press release:
The Structure’s International Emoluments Clause is obvious: Donald Trump can’t settle for items ‘of any type no matter’ from international states or kings with out Congressional consent—and that features Trump’s Con Air One, a flying bribe from the Qatari royals.
At present, Home Judiciary Democrats are submitting a decision instructing Trump both to show down this Qatari ‘flying palace’ or to return to Congress instantly and search our consent to simply accept it. It’s what the Structure requires and what earlier Presidents have all the time completed, from Abraham Lincoln to John F. Kennedy. The Structure fees Congress with guaranteeing the President doesn’t use the very best workplace within the land as a get-rich-quick scheme to pocket lavish items from international Presidents, Dictators, and Emirs. It’s excessive time that Congress do its job.
If Trump will get to simply accept this airplane, will probably be as a result of Republicans in Congress selected to show a blind eye to probably the most corrupt public act ever dedicated by a president.
Democrats are going to hitch Republicans on the hip to Trump’s corruption. The very best end result right here will likely be for Democrats to drive a vote on the decision and watch Republicans squirm as they must defend their president taking a bribe.
What do you consider Rep. Raskin’s decision? Share your ideas within the feedback under.
