Skip to main content

Top Dems Demand Investigation into Trump’s ‘Chaotic’ Transition

 

shutterstock_503959981On the day before Thanksgiving, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office, demanding that officials review President-elect Donald Trump‘s “chaotic transition.” They question whether Trump is effectively spending taxpayer money allocated to help him with his transition.

The letter reads in part:

We are concerned about reports of “disarray”  within a “chaotic” transition, and ask that your review address several concerns, including conflicts of interest related to business holdings of Mr. Trump and his family; potential violations of protocol and security precautions related to Mr. Trump’s communications with foreign leaders; and transparency related to the use of taxpayer funds in the transition. Because the transition will last only until January 20, 201 7, we ask that you begin this review as quickly as possible.

According to the letter, GSA funding provides Trump and his team with staff compensation, office space, travel, and communication, among other services. Congress has allocated $9.5 million in overall taxpayer funds to help the president-elect. The Democratic leaders want Gene L. Dodaro, the Comptroller General for the GAO, to address questions including whether taxpayer funds are being appropriately spent and to what extent Trump’s alleged conflicts of interest affected his presidential transition.

Trump had denied that his transition is in “disarray.”

During a meeting with The New York Times on Tuesday, Trump also basically shrugged off concerns about his businesses, telling reporters that “[t]he law’s totally on my side. The President can’t have conflicts of interest.”

[image via shutterstock]

Tags:

Follow Law&Crime:

Rachel Stockman is President of Law&Crime which includes Law&Crime Productions, Law&Crime Network and LawAndCrime.com. Under her watch, the company has grown from just a handful of people to a robust production company and network producing dozens of true crime shows a year in partnership with major networks. She also currently serves as Executive Producer of Court Cam, a hit show on A&E, and I Survived a Crime, a new crime show premiering on A&E this fall. She also oversees production of a new daily syndicated show Law&Crime Daily, which is produced in conjunction with Litton Entertainment. In addition to these shows, her network and production company produce programs for Facebook Watch, Cineflix and others. She has spent years covering courts and legal issues, and was named Atlanta Press Club's 'Rising Star' in 2014. Rachel graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and Yale Law School.