How much money has gone directly from the Treasury into Trump family bank accounts?
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Reps. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), and Steve Cohen (D-TN) introduced the Curb Objectionable Redirection of Resources and Unconstitutional Payments to Trump (CORRUPT) Act, legislation that would require a comprehensive accounting of how much Donald Trump and members of his family have profited from the Presidency.
Specifically, the bill would require a report on taxpayer expenditures to the Trump Organization and its affiliates in FY '17 and ‘18, including Trump hotels, as well as an annual report moving forward on appropriated funds and regulatory actions which financially benefit the President, his businesses and those of his close family members.
"The American people are fed up with the rampant and unapologetic corruption in the Trump administration," said Rep. Ruben Gallego. "Donald Trump and his family are lining their pockets with taxpayer dollars. We introduced the CORRUPT Act because Congress and the American people deserve full transparency about how Trump and his family are profiting from the presidency."
"President Trump has been in violation of the Constitution since he was sworn into office," said Rep. Ted Lieu. "The Emoluments Clause clearly states that a President can't profit off of the status of the highest office in the land and yet that hasn't stopped the Trump family from lining their pockets at taxpayer expense. I'm proud to join my colleagues introducing this bill so that we can finally get to the bottom of Trump's self-dealing."
"The American people deserve better than an administration that appears to be fore sale to businesses eager to line the President's pickets," said Rep. Jayapal. "Trump is using his power for his own gain, but it's not the job of the American people to support his inane business ventures and Mar-a-Lago visits. The CORRUPT Act ensures something that people across this nation expect and deserve: transparency. It's past time for the president to be held to that standard."
"Transparency, oversight, and accountability are essential elements to ensure that public servants are not benefitting from their official positions. For more than two years, the American people are left questioning how much President Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization have used the presidency for his own gain," said Rep. Brenda Lawrence. "The CORRUPT Act would provide the necessary oversight so the American people know just how much the President is using the federal government to increase his wealth at the expense of the American taxpayers."
"Government in democracy is for the common good but government in a dictatorship is a money-making operation for the ruler and his family and friends. Which one are we going to be?" said Rep. Jamie Raskin. "Let's have some transparency in Trump's spending so we can restore some real accountability in our society."
To date, millions in taxpayer dollars have found their way into the coffers of the Trump Organization, including through federal employee stays at Trump hotels and space rented by federal agencies at Trump-owned properties. For example:
- The GAO reported in January 2019 that just 4 of President Trump's trips to Mar-a-Lago cost taxpayers more than $13 million, not including the salaries of government personnel traveling with him. President Trump has reportedly spent more than 220 days at Trump properties during his presidency – about 29% of his time as President.
- ProPublica found $16.1 million in political and taxpayer spending at Trump properties as of June 2018.
- ProPublica also discovered that the Secret Service paid $27,724 at the Trump golf course and resort in Doonbeg, Ireland in March 2017 to support Eric Trump's travel there for business.
- Taxpayers paid $100,000 in hotels alone for a Trump brothers business trip in February 2017 for the development of Trump hotels in Uruguay. The government spends money on travel, hotels, and accommodations every time a member of the Trump family travels.
- USA Today estimated that from January – August 2017, the Secret Service spent $59,585 on golf cart rentals alone as part of the President's trips to his own golf clubs.
- Taxpayers paid over $120K every day while Melania lived in Trump Tower in 2017 before moving to the White House. During that same time, $676,635 was spent on Air Force One flights for her to and from the White House and Mar-a-Lago.
- The State Department spent $15,000 at the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Vancouver for its grand opening in February 2017, and event attended by three of Trump's children.
The lawmakers originally introduced the bill in March 2018.