Campaign seeks to call on Congress to impeach Trump

A new campaign has emerged to call on Congress to impeach President Donald Trump on the grounds that he is in violation of the Constitution because he has not dropped his business ties since taking office.

Led by the nonprofit group Free Speech For People, which describes itself as “a national non-partisan non-profit organization that works to renew our democracy and our Constitution for the people, not big money and corporate interests,” and RootsAction, “an online initiative dedicated to galvanizing people who are committed to economic fairness, equal rights, civil liberties, environmental protection, and defunding endless wars,” the campaign has set up a website for supporters to donate to the cause and learn more about their argument that Trump’s business ties are an impeachable offense.

In particular, the group cites the Constitution’s Domestic Emoluments Clause, which states: “Neither the Union, nor any of its members, will be at liberty to give, nor will he be at liberty to receive, any other emolument than that which may have been determined by the first act. He can, of course, have no pecuniary inducement to renounce or desert the independence intended for him by the Constitution.”

Under this rule, then, a president should not and cannot have business or financial ties that would leave him available for foreign influence to buy his favor. Trump’s refusal to cut his business ties, the group argues, is exactly the behavior that this clause is meant to protect against.

On their site, the group argues that it is imperative, for the sake of the United States Constitution, to take action:

Unfortunately, President Trump has been unwilling to separate his presidential duty from his business interests. President Trump’s conduct has the effect of undermining the integrity of the presidency and disregarding his constitutional oath to “faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”[39] His ongoing receipt of income and other financial benefits through his businesses disregards his constitutional oath to “preserve . . . the Constitution of the United States,” undermines the integrity of the executive branch, and abuses the public trust.

Check out the website, where you can learn more and donate to the cause, here.