search
Sections List
The American Independent

Eric Trump accidentally admits his dad's separation from the family business is a total sham

Eric Trump has inadvertently exposed the reality behind the Trump family rhetoric about keeping their personal financial interests separate from the presidency. In an interview with Forbes, he admits that Donald Trump will continue to have access to the financial books for the Trump Organization. Eric Trump told Forbes he will continue to give his […]

By Oliver Willis - March 25, 2017
Share
Eric Trump

Eric Trump told Forbes he will continue to give his father updates “on the bottom line, profitability reports and stuff like that,” and will do so “quarterly.” He adds, “My father and I are very close. I talk to him a lot. We’re pretty inseparable.”

The admission shows that the Trump family’s claims that they are keeping their interests separate continues to be a lie.

The Trumps refused to follow the protocol that other presidents from both parties have used, which has historically taken the form of setting up a blind trust. In the case of a blind trust, it would ensure that Trump’s hands are completely off his business interests, and that his activity in the West Wing would not be tainted by the reality or perception that he is making decisions with his own bank account in mind.

Instead, Trump has only gone as far as a “half-blind trust,” which is neither blind at all nor ethical. Such an arrangement  “removes Trump from direct ownership of his businesses as a cosmetic nod to ethics laws, but still enables him to make money from these businesses, as well as obtain information and insights regarding how the businesses are being managed.” As Richard Painter, a former ethics lawyers in the George W. Bush administration, noted, this arrangement is “a violation of at least the spirit of the rules and that’s an abuse.”

And as Larry Noble, general counsel of the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center, told Forbes, “If he is now going to get reports from his son about the businesses, then he really isn’t separate in any real way.”

The family’s insistence on mingling taxpayer-financed offices with their private concerns continues to be an ethical nightmare, extending from Trump himself (who has already been sued for profiting from foreign business dealings) to his children and even his wife, who said in a legal filing she could use the Oval Office for private profit.

In prioritizing profits and access over ethical behavior, Trump continues to add more evidence to support proceedings like impeachment in his political future.


TAI News
Get the latest progressive news here first.

Tai News

Newsletter

Read More
White House touts historic investments in industry and infrastructure with new website

White House touts historic investments in industry and infrastructure with new website

By Oliver Willis - June 09, 2023
Trump indicted in classified documents case in a historic first for a former president

Trump indicted in classified documents case in a historic first for a former president

By Associated Press - June 09, 2023
US economy has added 13 million jobs during President Joe Biden’s first term

US economy has added 13 million jobs during President Joe Biden’s first term

By Oliver Willis - June 02, 2023
McCarthy says Biden stopped him from cutting Social Security and Medicare

McCarthy says Biden stopped him from cutting Social Security and Medicare

By Emily Singer - June 01, 2023
Biden’s tentative debt limit deal is prioritizing the economy over politics

Biden’s tentative debt limit deal is prioritizing the economy over politics

By Oliver Willis - May 31, 2023
Biden releases national strategy to combat antisemitism

Biden releases national strategy to combat antisemitism

By Oliver Willis - May 26, 2023
TAI News
Latest
Abortion rights roundup: The news impacting reproductive rights around the country

Abortion rights roundup: The news impacting reproductive rights around the country

By Rebekah Sager - June 09, 2023
Congressional Republicans say Donald Trump indictment is the end of democracy as we know it

Congressional Republicans say Donald Trump indictment is the end of democracy as we know it

By Josh Israel - June 09, 2023
GOP presidential hopefuls defend Donald Trump following federal indictment

GOP presidential hopefuls defend Donald Trump following federal indictment

By Emily Singer - June 09, 2023
Rick Scott lies about history of endorsing in primaries

Rick Scott lies about history of endorsing in primaries

By Josh Israel - June 09, 2023
White House touts historic investments in industry and infrastructure with new website

White House touts historic investments in industry and infrastructure with new website

By Oliver Willis - June 09, 2023
GOP lawmakers mock LGBTQ people and deny climate change in response to wildfire smoke

GOP lawmakers mock LGBTQ people and deny climate change in response to wildfire smoke

By Emily Singer - June 09, 2023
Close
TAI News
Get the latest progressive news here first.

Tai News

Newsletter