Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) have called for a review of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition, citing what they said were possible conflicts of interest resulting from Trump’s continued involvement in his business.
“Mr. Trump’s apparent conflicts of interest raise questions about the use of taxpayer funds during the transition, and about the decisions made during the transition that will affect federal government policies under the Trump Administration,” Warren and Cummings wrote in a letter dated Wednesday to the comptroller general of the Government Accountability Office.
The letter cites a report from Newsweek’s Kurt Eichnenwald which found that the Trump Organization had “deep connections in China, Brazil, Bulgaria, Argentina, Canada, France, Germany and other countries.”
Though Trump’s corporate lawyer, Michael Cohen, claimed that Trump would transfer his business responsibilities to his children, the letter argues such an arrangement does not qualify as a “blind trust” as Trump’s team has claimed.
Trump has also continued meeting with business partners and discussing business interests as President-elect, the letter notes.
The letter also cites a New York Times report last week that Trump’s transition team was in “disarray,” and a Salon report that Trump spoke to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull after Turnbull got Trump’s cell phone number from a mutual golfing buddy.
“We also ask that you provide any recommendations necessary to ensure that future Presidential transitions are not marred by conflicts of interest or other problems,” the letter concludes.
