Sen. Lindsey Graham said that he will “wait and see” if the actions taken by Trump and his children are sufficient. | AP Photo GOP on Trump's business ties: 'He understands this is a problem'

Top GOP congressional investigators are giving Donald Trump plenty of latitude to ensure his business empire doesn’t conflict with his ability to run the nation, arguing that the president-elect deserves a chance to resolve any potential issues before they delve into Trump’s vast business holdings.

In interviews, Republicans tasked with overseeing Trump, along with party leaders and even Trump critics, all said the president-elect should have a chance to explain to the nation why his administration will be entirely separate from his business interests. And they agreed that Trump needs to make sure his business interests don’t interfere with his public duties. That’s not to say they won’t jump into action if Trump runs afoul of their ethical sensibilities, but GOP lawmakers suggested that they will lay off unless Trump forces their hand.


“What I’m going to do is give the president-elect a chance to figure out what he’s going to do. I think we all should. The American people voted for Donald Trump understanding he had financial interests all over the globe,” said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who chairs the Senate’s primary oversight committee. “I’m going to give him a chance to do that before I start talking about any kind of oversight. … If there’s an issue, I’ll take a look at it.”

Johnson’s counterpart in the House, Oversight Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), likewise promised “vigorous oversight” of Trump. But he said he’s not interested in “fishing” for problems before Trump is even sworn in, despite Democratic demands for immediate investigations.

It’s clear that GOP lawmakers don’t want to antagonize a man they hope will sign legislation next year to reform the tax code and repeal Obamacare, among other Republican priorities. Rather than jeopardize their relationship out of the gate, Republicans said they’re starting with the assumption that Trump will figure out how to disentangle himself from his business in the two weeks before his news conference on the matter. Trump announced Wednesday that he will hold a news conference Dec. 15.

Indeed, Trump’s plans to explain how he will disentangle himself shows he “understands this is a problem for him,” as Sen. Lindsey Graham put it in an interview on Wednesday morning. The South Carolina Republican, who is warming to Trump after being a top critic during the election, said that he will give the real estate mogul a pass on the matter until the president-elect explains himself in mid-December. Graham said that he will “wait and see” whether the actions taken by Trump and his children are sufficient but indicated he is watching closely.

“The fact that he’s going to have a news conference with his family and talk about how to avoid any appearance of conflicts of interest. It’s a good sign,” Graham said. “Does it make sense to me? I’m just going to wait … but I want to applaud him for recognizing the fact that it’s a problem.”

The No. 2 Senate Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, said in an interview that Trump will have a major challenge ahead due to “all of the questions that have been raised and will be raised in the future about his business entanglements.” But Cornyn, like Graham, will gave Trump some space over the next two weeks while the president-elect prepares to explain how he will avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.

No Republicans interviewed Wednesday suggested what steps in particular Trump could take to satisfy them.

“It’s a tough transition to go from the private sector, where things are pretty much private, to the public sector, where everything’s public and is going to be examined in great detail,” said Cornyn, who is “encouraged” by Trump’s attempt at transparency.

Trump told The New York Times last week that “the president can’t have a conflict of interest” and said on Wednesday morning he will remove himself “completely” from his business operations and discuss the matter at a news conference with his children. Trump’s interactions with British leaders about wind turbines obstructing views at his golf course and the kingdom of Bahrain’s booking of Trump’s D.C. hotel for a reception have raised questions — mostly among Democrats thus far — about whether he can truly separate himself from his financial holdings while in the White House.



Even two of Trump’s former presidential rivals, Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida, seemed unconcerned about potential conflicts of interest. Rubio said he is “sure he has a good general counsel, and I’m sure he has good advice,” but he would not “prematurely comment” on Trump’s arrangement as president.

“It’s important to note there’s no specific laws on this. There’s custom and there’s things that will pass the public scrutiny test. And I don’t think it’s my job to tell him that,” Paul said. “The people who are saying he should sell everything. I think that’s kind of unfair … you should have to unload it in a fire sale? That’s not really realistic. He’s trying to set up some separation, and I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

Kellyanne Conway, a top Trump aide, told the AP on Wednesday that Trump’s three adult children will see their business responsibilities increase as Trump steps away from the private sector. Tennessee Rep. John Duncan, a senior GOP Oversight panel member, argued the president-elect won the White House in part because voters appreciated the role his children play in the family’s wider business relationships. And the lawmaker said he wanted it to continue as Trump officially takes office.

“Most people that I heard felt much better about Mr. Trump because they were so favorably impressed by his children,” Duncan said. “I think it would be better for the country if the children remain in a close relationship with their father and give him advice on important issues as they go along. And I think they can easily do that and maintain their business relationships. So I don’t see a problem with it.”

While House Oversight Democrats are demanding a closer look at Trump’s business dealings, their GOP counterparts appear far from focused on it now. Asked whether he had concerns about conflicts arising from the prospect of Trump’s adult children remaining engaged in the family business, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, a South Carolina Republican, replied, “Honestly you’re asking the entire wrong person. I haven’t given that a single lick of thought.”

But Mulvaney, a member of the oversight panel that’s been at the center of probes into Obama administration actions, insisted Republicans would hold Trump’s feet to the fire. “I am absolutely confident the Oversight Committee will give the next administration the same level of scrutiny it gave the last administration.”

Democrats have been agitating for greater oversight of Trump’s business dealings, writing letters to GOP committee leaders urging them to investigate and press the incoming administration to the same degree they did that of President Barack Obama.

“While Mr. Trump still does not acknowledge the global extent of his massive conflicts of interest, at least now he seems to recognize that there is widespread bipartisan concern and that he must address these unprecedented problems before he takes office,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), who has repeatedly called for Republicans to investigate ties between Trump’s businesses and the presidency.

But for now, aside from a few rank-and-file Republicans raising concerns, key lawmakers have avoided speaking publicly about whether they have concerns with Trump’s potential conflicts of interest.

“I think he understands this is a problem for him, and he seems to be putting his head around it,” Graham said. “Give him some time, is what I’m saying.”

