There's a Russia angle to all this, because remember, we don't have Donald Trump's tax returns. He did a very - relative summary, 104 page campaign financial disclosure. One year of tax returns, reportedly - we've seen the pictures, 12,000 pages. And tax returns are replete with his foreign interests, including, perhaps, his Russian interests. That may be the reason he doesn't want to turn over his taxes.
Norman L. EisenWith the new Russia allegations coming to the fore once again, the conclusion of the intelligence agencies, we've got to have those [Donald Trump's] taxes to evaluate whether these conflicts go to the heart of our most pressing national security interests.
Norman L. EisenThere's going to be a lot of remedies. [Donald Trump] is also subject to other conflicts laws.The bribery laws are intended to prevent conflicts, for example. He's subject to criminal law. He's subject to civil law. He's going to be subject to litigation. He's already in a lot of cases. This is going to come up in existing litigation and there's going to be new litigation.
Norman L. EisenPeople are studying whether there's a cause of action that competitors, for example, would have if they're harmed by these foreign government payments.
Norman L. Eisen"The Constitution" has something called The Emoluments Clause. That's just a fancy, 18th century word for no foreign government payments. And Donald Trump is collecting foreign government payments and other benefits throughout his business.It is a direct violation of "The Constitution" and unless he divests, not just operations, he must divest from all business interests or he will be in violation of "The Constitution" from day one.
Norman L. EisenThere's a Russia angle to all this, because remember, we don't have Donald Trump's tax returns. He did a very - relative summary, 104 page campaign financial disclosure. One year of tax returns, reportedly - we've seen the pictures, 12,000 pages. And tax returns are replete with his foreign interests, including, perhaps, his Russian interests. That may be the reason he doesn't want to turn over his taxes.
Norman L. Eisen