Eric Lipton

But the Constitution does make clear, though, there is the language in the Constitution that impeachment, that one of the crimes and misdemeanors that could justify impeachment, the word specifically bribery is there in the Constitution as the grounds for an impeachment proceeding.

But the Constitution does make clear, though, there is the language in the Constitution that impeachment, that one of the crimes and misdemeanors that could justify impeachment, the word specifically bribery is there in the Constitution as the grounds for an impeachment proceeding.

An emoluments clause could result in a civil suit against the president that would require the president to give back the emolument that he or she received from the foreign government. And it could also be the basis of potentially an impeachment proceeding, but it wouldn't be a criminal matter.

An emoluments clause could result in a civil suit against the president that would require the president to give back the emolument that he or she received from the foreign government. And it could also be the basis of potentially an impeachment proceeding, but it wouldn't be a criminal matter.

We are back. But the bottom line question that you ask is that over a series of things that have happened over the last decade, it has made these questions much harder. And it's also part of the reason that what's happening is a conflict of interest. It is unethical. It is unprecedented. It is corrupting the government. I agree with all those things.

We are back. But the bottom line question that you ask is that over a series of things that have happened over the last decade, it has made these questions much harder. And it's also part of the reason that what's happening is a conflict of interest. It is unethical. It is unprecedented. It is corrupting the government. I agree with all those things.

But whether or not it is legally, you know, he is acting corruptly, I think that has become a harder question to answer. Right. but it almost doesn't matter. These terms are important and we have to be careful with the words we use, but it doesn't matter because what's happening is unethical and wrong. And it's just damaging to American history and to democracy.

But whether or not it is legally, you know, he is acting corruptly, I think that has become a harder question to answer. Right. but it almost doesn't matter. These terms are important and we have to be careful with the words we use, but it doesn't matter because what's happening is unethical and wrong. And it's just damaging to American history and to democracy.

And we are committed and Susan is as well. We're documenting this. The thing that I think really matters is as a reporter is that let's get the primary details, the primary documents, the proof, and let's bring that to the public. And that's what we've been doing.

And we are committed and Susan is as well. We're documenting this. The thing that I think really matters is as a reporter is that let's get the primary details, the primary documents, the proof, and let's bring that to the public. And that's what we've been doing.

That's right. We are the only thing left of accountability. The Justice Department, the IGs have been fired. Oh my God. The Office of Government Ethics, the head has been fired.

That's right. We are the only thing left of accountability. The Justice Department, the IGs have been fired. Oh my God. The Office of Government Ethics, the head has been fired.

Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, unfortunately, campaign finance at this point, given the Supreme Court actions, is sort of a lost cause. And I don't really see, you know, unless you kind of completely remake the Supreme Court, how we're ever going back. And I mean, but what we're seeing is the personal enrichment aspect.

Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, unfortunately, campaign finance at this point, given the Supreme Court actions, is sort of a lost cause. And I don't really see, you know, unless you kind of completely remake the Supreme Court, how we're ever going back. And I mean, but what we're seeing is the personal enrichment aspect.

of, you know, with Trump, he is both, you know, effectively the chief regulator of securities and exchange by appointing the head of the SEC. And his family now runs one of the world's largest cryptocurrency stablecoin issuers that is regulated. So he is both the regulator and the regulated. And that's the threshold that we have crossed that really has no precedent. And that

of, you know, with Trump, he is both, you know, effectively the chief regulator of securities and exchange by appointing the head of the SEC. And his family now runs one of the world's largest cryptocurrency stablecoin issuers that is regulated. So he is both the regulator and the regulated. And that's the threshold that we have crossed that really has no precedent. And that

Campaign finance and the corruption of government through influence and access that comes with campaign donations has been something we have written about for many years and tried to document. But we just have never seen something where the elected official is personally benefiting to the extent that Trump is through his family.

Campaign finance and the corruption of government through influence and access that comes with campaign donations has been something we have written about for many years and tried to document. But we just have never seen something where the elected official is personally benefiting to the extent that Trump is through his family.

And and that and it just, you know, so like the whole campaign finance debate is important, but it's sort of like it's like tangential to what's going on here, which is direct personal enrichment in a way. You know, the fact is that that like President Trump will benefit from there's there's this legislation pending in Congress called the Genius Act that would.

And and that and it just, you know, so like the whole campaign finance debate is important, but it's sort of like it's like tangential to what's going on here, which is direct personal enrichment in a way. You know, the fact is that that like President Trump will benefit from there's there's this legislation pending in Congress called the Genius Act that would.