Bahrain and Trump Ethical Concerns
Trump continues to set himself up for impeachment over his businesses and business connections... how bullish can a person be to disdain known rules and regulation of the Constitution in highest office as President, As I've said many times, Trump is about money in his own pockets and trying to make himself world known...
Bahrain to host event at Trump's D.C. hotel, raising ethical concerns
Ethical dilemmas existed even before Trump was elected. But the president-elect hasn’t taken any actions to ease concerns.
By NOLAN D. MCCASKILL and MADELINE CONWAY 11/29/16 01:52 PM EST Updated 11/29/16 03:37 PM EST
Bahrain has just booked at Donald Trump's new Washington hotel.
As ethics lawyers warn about potential conflicts of interest facing the billionaire businessman's presidential administration, the kingdom reserved space for a reception at the president-elect's flagship property less than a mile from the White House, according to an invitation from the country's embassy obtained by POLITICO on Tuesday.
“On the occasion of the forty fifth national day of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the seventeenth anniversary of his majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s accession to the throne,” the invitation begins, “Ambassador Abdulla Al Khalifa cordially invites you to a national day reception on Wednesday, December 07, 2016 from 12:00 to 2:00 PM.”
A Trump International Hotel representative declined to confirm the details of the event. “It’s always been a policy of Trump that we never ever discuss individual guests or groups in the hotel,” the sales and marketing official told POLITICO.
News of the reception drew an immediate rebuke from Richard Painter, one of several legal experts who has been sounding alarms over the possible conflicts presented by the unprecedented scope and scale of the incoming president's business interests.
Painter, President George W. Bush’s chief ethics lawyer, said a foreign government making payments to Trump’s businesses while he is president would violate a provision of the Constitution called the foreign Emoluments Clause.
The clause bars officials from accepting gifts from foreign powers without congressional approval, Painter said, adding that a diplomat staying at a Trump hotel to get in his good graces would qualify as one.
Whether the Bahrain reception, set to take place a month before Trump’s inauguration, would violate the Constitution depends on whether the payments are made before or after Jan. 20, Painter argued. Regardless, he maintained that it raises serious concerns, and the only solution is for Trump to sell the hotel — either to his children or another buyer.
“The point is, this is not where we want to go,” Painter said. “This is a concern. This is not where we want to go.”
Next week’s event won’t be the first example of the blurred lines between the president-elect and the businessman who has yet to relinquish his business empire, though.
Roughly 100 foreign diplomats drank Trump-branded champagne at Trump International Hotel earlier this month as they took in a sales pitch about the hotel, according to a Washington Post report published Nov. 18.
But the ethical dilemmas existed even before he was elected president. And Trump — who still hasn’t released his tax returns and is the target of Democrats in Congress who are requesting a review of his financial arrangements for possible conflicts of interest before he’s sworn in as president — hasn’t taken any actions to ease such concerns.
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Comments (8)
- c s lewis -
Trump wants to do neither !
He's a drain the swamp man
Why do you constantly find fault with our new president? You must be a hilery lover?
that's it
Keep dreaming. The crude thing is you can't find any fault if either Obama or Clinton? And you pride yourself of a minister?
Trump is so out of control and unhinged. During this time of his transition it appears he is focusing on vindicating himself of those he feels have done him wrong. Snd is determined to do things his way without proper counsel or council.
He is in massive debt with the bank of China in other words the government of China since the bank is owned by the government, and he had kept this silent until China during his campaign let it be known that Trump owes the China government some reported $950 million on a loan. This makes Trump beholding to China although Trump has bragged that he is beholding to no one and no interest group will influence him with their money or favors... that was fine and dandy lie until China let it be known Trump was IN DEBT TO THEM. Now Trump is mad and causing troubles between China and Taiwan’s president/government.
Now to slap China in the face, Trump has stepped up his game and is causing problems by calling Taiwan’s president , then he lied and said she called him, as if there are no phone records. Then he posted tweets about the call.. This is not good! ... it could very well cause serious problems between China and Taiwan, and US relations... what an idiot!
Trump Speaks With Taiwan’s Leader, an Affront to China
By MARK LANDLER and DAVID E. SANGER DEC. 2, 2016
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump spoke by telephone with Taiwan’s president on Friday, a striking break with nearly four decades of diplomatic practice that could precipitate a major rift with China even before Mr. Trump takes office.
Mr. Trump’s office said he spoke with the Taiwanese president, Tsai Ing-wen, “who offered her congratulations.” He is believed to be the first president or president-elect who has spoken to a Taiwanese leader since at least 1979, when the United States severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan as part of its recognition of the People’s Republic of China.
In the statement, Mr. Trump’s office said the two leaders noted “the close economic, political, and security ties” between Taiwan and the United States. Mr. Trump, it said, “also congratulated President Tsai on becoming President of Taiwan earlier this year.”
Mr. Trump’s motives in taking the call, which lasted more than 10 minutes, were not clear. In a Twitter message late Friday, he said Ms. Tsai “CALLED ME.”
But diplomats with ties to Taiwan said it was highly unlikely that the Taiwanese leader would have made the call without arranging it in advance, and Taiwan’s Central News Agency hailed it as “historic.”
The president-elect has shown little heed for the nuances of international diplomacy, holding a series of unscripted phone calls to foreign leaders that have roiled sensitive relationships with Britain, India and Pakistan. On Thursday, the White House urged Mr. Trump to use experts from the State Department to prepare him for these exchanges.
The White House was not told about Mr. Trump’s call until after it happened, according to a senior administration.
[bThe call also raised questions of conflicts of interest.
Newspapers in Taiwan reported last month that a Trump Organization representative had visited the country, expressing interest in perhaps developing a hotel project adjacent to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, which is undergoing a major expansion. The mayor of Taoyuan, Cheng Wen-tsan, was quoted as confirming that visit.
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