Wyden, Merkley Introduce Legislation Targeting The Use of Presidential Libraries as Tools for Corruption
Special interests seemingly seeking favors from Donald Trump have funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into his presidential library
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., said today they have joined colleagues in introducing legislation that would close loopholes letting presidential libraries be used for corruption and bribery.
From mega-merger approvals to the preservation of the U.S. military base in Qatar, giant corporations, at least one foreign government, and several other entities have promised donations collectively worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Donald Trump’s future library while he has the power to affect those same entities’ futures. The contributions, many in the form of settlements to Trump-filed lawsuits, raise serious ethics concerns about potential bribery and corruption.
“Donald Trump can’t be allowed to get away with accepting any shiny, lavish gift that comes his way from big corporations, foreign governments, and even anonymous donors,” Wyden said. “No president should be allowed to accumulate more wealth by receiving the fanciest gifts and then self-classifying them as ‘contributions’ to presidential libraries. It’s time to put a cap on contributions to hold corrupt, self-serving presidents like Trump accountable for making sketchy, back-alley deals.”
“We can’t allow his presidential library to be yet another avenue for President Trump to sell access and influence to the highest bidders. Without action, we stamp a Congressional seal of approval on Trump’s ability to use his future library to enrich himself and his family,” said Merkley. “We need the Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act to close the corrupt loophole that allows for foreign governments and giant corporations to give unlimited library donations, protecting our ‘We The People’ republic.”
Unlike presidential campaigns or inaugural committees, presidential libraries are subject to almost no restrictions on donations, which means contributions can come from foreign nationals, lobbyists, people seeking presidential pardons, and corporations with matters before federal agencies.
Just weeks ago, Paramount settled Trump’s seemingly meritless lawsuit for $16 million as it is currently vying for the Trump administration’s approval of its proposed mega-merger with Skydance. In May , Trump announced he would accept a free luxury jet — worth about $400 million — from the government of Qatar, and that the jet would be donated to his presidential library after he leaves office.
The Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act would:
- Ban fundraising while the president is in office, with a carveout for nonprofits: Require that presidential libraries wait until the president leaves office before fundraising or accepting donations, except from 501(c)(3) organizations (mirroring the standard adopted by the Obama Foundation).
- Establish a contribution cap: For 501(c)(3) organizations that can donate while a president is still in office, limit donations to $10,000 total.
- Impose a cooling-off period for donations from foreign nationals, lobbyists, contractors, individuals seeking pardons: For an additional two years after the president leaves office, prohibit donations from foreign nationals or foreign governments, registered lobbyists, federal contractors, and individuals seeking presidential pardons.
- Ban conversion of donations to personal use: Bar the use of library donations for personal expenses or unrelated financial obligations.
- Mandate quarterly disclosures: During the president’s time in office and for five years after, require all donations of $200 or more to be disclosed to the National Archives each calendar quarter. Publish donor information (including name, employer, and date and amount of the donation) online in a searchable, downloadable format.
- Prohibit straw donations: Make it illegal to donate in someone else’s name, or to knowingly allow your name to be used for a straw donation.
The bill was led in the Senate by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. In the House, it was led by U.S. Representatives Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the bill was cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Andy Kim,D-N.J., Ed Markey, D-Mass.,Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I..
The bill is endorsed by the following: Project On Government Oversight, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Democracy Defenders Action, Campaign Legal Center, Freedom of the Press Foundation, Public Citizen, Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, Demand Progress, and American Governance Institute.
A one-page summary of the bill is here. The text of the bill is here.
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