On Tuesday, a House committee announced that it would investigate former President Donald Trump’s failure to properly record foreign government officials receiving gifts as required by law.
Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, wrote Monday to the National Archives asking for documents about “mismanaged gift” that was received from foreign officials while Trump held office. The committee’s concerns are based on information provided recently by the State Department.
Maloney wrote that “These revelations raise concern about the potential for undue control over former President Trump from foreign governments.”
According to the committee, it was briefed last month by the State Department about the tracking and reporting process White House gifts. It was also informed of “serious flaws in that process during Trump’s Administration.”
CNN reported the story for the first time.
The State Department stated that it was unable to compile a satisfactory accounting of the gifts given by foreign governments to Trump and other U.S. officials in 2020 due to missing data from Trump’s White House.
Maloney stated in her letter that Trump’s failure to tabulate gifts could have endangered national security interests and may have violated Constitution’s Emoluments Clause. This clause prohibits the president’s personal use of gifts exceeding the “minimal worth” of $415.
Trump received multiple gifts from foreign sources in 2020. However, these gifts are not on the State Department’s list.
The State Department’s Office of the Inspector General announced that it would investigate whether Trump’s former political appointees took taxpayer-funded gifts home. It noted that the dollar value of the gifts missing was “significant”.
One of the gifts was a $5,800 bottle of whiskey that was presented to Mike Pompeo by Japanese officials. It then mysteriously disappeared.
Maloney also mentioned other gifts, such as a Louis Vuitton bag, photographs from French President Emmanuel Macron, and a gold-framed portrait Trump from the prime Minister of Vietnam, which were allegedly worth more than $8,200.
Maloney demanded all documents and communications relating to foreign gifts received Trump, his family members, and White House staff before June 20.
A Trump spokesperson did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
