Ranking Member Connolly Urges Chairman Comer to Stand by Presidential Ethics Bill and Investigate President Trump’s Conflicts of Interest

Washington, D.C. (January 22, 2025)—Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, urged Chairman James Comer to immediately investigate Donald Trump’s numerous conflicts of interest and stand by the principles of his Presidential Ethics Reform Act—a bill aimed at combatting presidential conflicts of interest. 

“This Congress, I hope you will use the power of this Committee in a manner that meets the bill’s underlying goals of presidential transparency and accountability.  This is not merely a matter of consistency—it is a fundamental test of our Committee’s integrity and its commitment to the American people,” wrote Ranking Member Connolly.  “This Committee must take immediate action to investigate the grave conflicts of interest Donald Trump carries with him to the Office of the President.”  The letter continues, “We must act quickly and in a bipartisan manner to establish ethics rules for the Trump White House that meet our shared standards.”

In his letter, Ranking Member Connolly highlighted examples of Trump’s ever-growing and concerning conflicts of interest, including: 

• Trump’s new cryptocurrency platform, World Liberty Financial (WLF), which offers a pathway to funnel cash directly to Trump and permits malign actors and foreign interests to buy President Trump’s favor.
   
• $Trump, the cryptocurrency token launched by Trump three days before his inauguration, which creates another avenue where people can transfer money to the president’s family and allow Trump to cash in on the presidency.
   
• Trump’s promise of special regulatory treatment to Hussain Sajwani and his company, DAMAC Properties, as a prize for DAMAC’s recent investment announcement.
   
• The announcement on January 7, 2025, that Mar-a-Lago would host a LIV Golf league tournament later in the spring of 2025.  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia owns and operates LIV Golf.
   
• Billions of dollars in investments directed to Jared Kushner’s private equity firm by Persian Gulf nations. 

“These examples are not isolated incidents—they reflect a pattern of ethical disregard that characterized the first Trump Administration … Ethical governance is not a partisan goal—it is a shared responsibility.  I urge you to demonstrate the Committee’s commitment to ethical governance and to ensure that no administration, no matter how powerful, is above the law,” concluded Ranking Member Connolly. 

Click here to read the letter.

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