Launch a federal investigation into Donald Trump's conflicts of interest

Our elected officials should govern in the public interest, not for personal financial gain. But Donald Trump's presidency will be rife with potential conflicts of interest unless he puts his assets into a blind trust before taking office.

He's proposed having his children manage his businesses, which would do nothing to resolve these conflicts -- and might introduce conflicts of their own. The House Oversight Committee must do its job: conduct a full investigation and hold President-elect Trump accountable unless he sells the Trump Organization and puts his assets into a blind trust.

Donald Trump's global business empire opens him to unprecedented conflicts of interest. The Constitution forbids elected officials from taking payments from foreign governments, but the Trump Organization has business entanglements in more than 20 countries.

Nearly every modern president has avoided problems like this by setting up a blind trust -- but Trump has refused to take that step. His proposed solution is no solution at all: his children will "increase their responsibilities" in the business, as they stay involved in Trump’s administration. As long as Trump still knows what assets he owns, or has his family manage them, it's not a blind trust.

It’s the House Oversight Committee's job to investigate the president to identify and protect against conflicts of interest. The chair, Rep. Jason Chaffetz said before the election that he'd vigorously investigate corruption in a potential Clinton administration -- but so far, he's been silent on President-elect Trump.

Earlier this year, Chaffetz called for transparency from both presidential candidates, saying: "If you're going to run and try to become the president of the United States, you're going to have to open up your kimono and show everything, your tax returns, your medical records..." He continued, "My job is not to be a cheerleader for the president. My job is to hold them accountable and to provide that oversight. That's what we do."

Now, this watchdog's lost his bite, advising reporters: "so give him some time to organize, get their staff and their counsel all situated." Chaffetz can't change his tune now that his party is in charge -- he must turn that same level of scrutiny on President-elect Trump. The American people deserve nothing less.

Americans agree that strong oversight is necessary to ensure that public servants look to their time in government as a way of contributing to society, not a way of enriching themselves and their friends. Add your name and demand that the House Oversight Committee investigate Donald Trump's conflicts of interest.