Several weeks ago it was reported that former President Donald Trump received more than $7.8 million while in office from at least 20 foreign governments, according to a report revealed by the House Oversight Committee.
The 156-page report, titled "White House For Sale," details evidence of thousands of Trump business records obtained from Mazars USA, an accounting firm that has worked for Mr. Trump for years, after the Supreme Court ruled against the former president's claim that he has absolute immunity back in 2020.
Now, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) is demanding that the former president return the $7.8 million his companies received while in office in a letter. The House Oversight and Accountability Committee Democrats allege the payments violate the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution.
"Your acceptance of foreign emoluments while in office was a stunning violation of the U.S. Constitution - and a profound betrayal of the interests of the United States and the trust of the American people," Raskin wrote in a letter.
The vast majority of the funds, some $5.6 million, came from China and went to Trump hotels in Washington and Las Vegas, as well as Trump Tower in New York, according to The Hill.
Raskin further believes the total amount is yet to be determined because it does not account for money Trump received directly and that the investigation was stymied by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky) when he became committee chair in January 2023.
What Did The Report Say?
"Critically, the report was unable to provide a full accounting of the total amount of foreign emoluments you accepted as President, and thus, was unable to determine precisely what you owe to the American people," Raskin wrote.
"You spent years litigating against the Committee to prevent us from obtaining any documents regarding the foreign emoluments you received while in office."
Raskin believes the countries his business holding received money from "sought - and in many cases obtained - favors and specific policy outcomes from you and your Administration" in exchange.
Raskin and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) debated the matter in a committee hearing on Thursday.
"There is no hotel exception, Mr. Donalds, to the foreign emoluments clause," Raskin said. "There is no international real estate syndicate exception to the foreign emoluments clause, Mr. Donalds."
HNGN will further update this story as details to continue to emerge.
