***Video*** Senate Republicans Block Blumenthal Anti-Corruption Resolution That Would Force Trump To Stop Accepting Foreign Payments and Gifts

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today Senate Republicans blocked U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal's (D-CT) unanimous consent request to pass his resolution to stop President Donald Trump from accepting payments and gifts from foreign governments.

Blumenthal's resolution would authorize the Senate to take legal action to enforce Trump's compliance with the Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause, which requires the President of the United States and all other federal officials to seek and obtain the affirmative consent of Congress before accepting any benefits from foreign states. Blumenthal's resolution follows the arrival of a $400 million luxury jet gifted from the royal family of Qatar to Trump and comes as foreign agents are potentially funneling millions directly to the Trump family through a cryptocurrency scheme.

The resolution is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

"The Emoluments Clause is dead letter if it is not enforced and our national security is at risk," Blumenthal said today on the Senate Floor. "President Trump's willingness to use the privileges of his office to enrich himself is well known to Americans. And it seems to have no bounds."

"Not only has President Trump violated flagrantly the Emoluments Clause, but he's effectively slapped a for sale sign on the door of the Oval Office. The president is supposed to work for us, for the American people, for everyday Americans, not for his own self-enrichment."

Video of Blumenthal's Floor Speech is available here.

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