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Editor, News-Register:
Sadly, it is not at all surprising that Donald J. Trump, during his tenure as president of the United States, reportedly received a minimum of $7.8 million as payment from 20 foreign countries, many of which have an adversarial relationship with our great country. In particular, China, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are obviously seeking to curry favor from the then-president by spending lavishly at Trump properties, including hotels, golf courses, condos and the like, which is in complete contradiction to in defiance of the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution which strictly prohibits public officials from personally accepting such foreign subsidies or payments from foreign entities while in office as it constitutes an obvious conflict of interest.
All other U.S. presidents have fully complied with the Emoluments Clause, by completely diversifying themselves from all personal businesses and properties in compliance with the national law, with the exception of President Trump, whose utter disrespect and disregard for such laws have, unfortunately, compromised our country's leadership of the free world.
How odd that the Republican controlled U.S. House of Representatives has elected to completely ignore such damaging and completely verified indiscretions of the former president, while pursuing an impeachment inquiry of current President Joe Biden. Although over a year into the investigation, there has reportedly been no such incriminating evidence implicating our current president to date. Disturbingly but irrefutably the House GOP members prioritize politics and personal ambition over their legislative role in service of the American people.
Mr. Trump's obvious disregard of the rule of law has been his mode of operation for approximately five decades in the business world, which he certainly flaunted and declined to alter during his tenure as our highest ranking public official. Perhaps now is finally the time when Mr. Trump is to be held accountable for his extreme legalism, and be forced to fully abide and respect the laws of our land in full -- as are we all.
Richard Hord
Martins Ferry