Raskin demands Trump return $7.8M foreign governments paid his companies during presidency

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) went after former President Trump on Friday, writing a letter demanding that his companies return about $7.8 million they received from foreign governments while in office.

Democrats on the oversight committee first raised the allegations in a report last week, alleging that President Trump's companies received funds from foreign entities in 20 countries and that the payments violated the Constitution's Emoluments Clause. did.

“His receipt of foreign compensation while in office is an appalling violation of the United States Constitution and a gross betrayal of American interests and the trust of the American people,” Raskin wrote.

The bulk of the payments, about $5.6 million, came from China and were sent to Trump's hotels in Washington and Las Vegas, as well as Trump Tower in New York, the report said.

Raskin said the $7.8 million figure is incomplete and does not represent a significant portion of the funds received by President Trump. He said Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) scaled back his investigation when he became chairman last January.

“Importantly, this report fails to fully account for the total amount of foreign compensation you received as president, and therefore cannot accurately determine what you owe the American people.” “I was unable to do so,” Raskin wrote. “You spent years filing a lawsuit against the commission to prevent us from obtaining documents regarding foreign compensation you received while in office.”

Raskin said the countries that provided funding to Trump's companies “sought, and in many cases received, favors and certain policy outcomes from you and your administration” in return.

The report comes as Republicans on the oversight committee are investigating President Biden's family finances, including allegations that his son and brother received money from foreign sources in business transactions.

Mr. Raskin and Congressman Byron Donald (R-Fla.) sparred Thursday's committee hearing on foreign currency claims.

“Mr. Donald, there is no hotel exception to the foreign compensation clause,” Raskin said. “There is no international real estate syndicate exception to the foreign compensation clause, Mr. Donald.”