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27 tweets,
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THREAD: Going out on a limb to say the United States needs more stringent anti-corruption laws and enforcement. opensecrets.org/news/2019/06/t… 
"Trump’s business entanglements continue to leave him with positions, assets, trademarks and other business interests in more than 30 countries."
"Trump’s sprawling web of foreign properties and investments, which includes some projects completed during his presidency or still under development, reveals a litany of apparent efforts by foreign business leaders and governments to gain influence."
"Some of the developers behind Trump-branded projects are under scrutiny for exploitative business practices. In many of these countries, developers work in close proximity to political power and wealthy businessmen have outsized influence with the government."
"Several groups have filed lawsuits alleging Trump has violated the Emoluments Clause, a section of the Constitution that restricts members of the government from receiving gifts or other benefits from foreign states or leaders without permission from Congress."
"Trump has decades of history with Argentine President Macri, including a hot and cold business relationship. Macri’s father, Franco, reportedly tried to buy a majority share in one of Trump’s Manhattan real estate projects in 1979 and lost tens of millions when it fell through."
In Azerbaijan, "Trump International Hotel & Tower Baku was developed with relatives of Azerbaijan Transportation Minister Ziya Mammadov — who a U.S. diplomat described as 'notoriously corrupt even for Azerbaijan' ...
... — the project linked the Trump Organization to a family with ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which the Trump administration recently labeled a foreign terrorist organization." newyorker.com/magazine/2017/…
"Trump’s ownership of a Bermuda-based company called D.J. Aerospace Ltd remains shrouded in mystery. The absence of corporate income tax in Bermuda has led some to speculate it may be used as an offshore account, but it isn’t clear if the company or account are still active."
"The Trump Organization’s involvement in a luxury Rio de Janeiro hotel ostensibly came to an abrupt end after it was revealed the project may have had dubious beginnings.
"The Trump Organization withdrew its licensing and management agreement with the 13-story luxury hotel in December 2016... weeks after a Brazilian federal prosecutor opened a criminal investigation into the hotel ... on suspicious investments from state-owned pension funds.
"The investigation also looked into Trump Towers Rio, a project to build five office towers proposed in 2012 but never started. Trump cancelled his involvement in that project in January 2017.
"Since then, Brazilian prosecutors rolled out charges against several of Trump’s former business partners for diverting public pension funds into the projects in exchange for bribes and illegal commissions."
Canada: "While Trump’s focus as president was south of the border, his sons were busy putting a bow on his business deal north of the border. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump celebrated the opening of Trump International Hotel and Tower Vancouver in February 2017."
"Trump’s seemingly perpetual battle with China has been riddled with apparent attempts by the Chinese government to influence the president.
"Right off the bat, China did its best to appease the incoming president, approving a 'TRUMP' trademark for Trump’s construction-related services in China just days after Trump’s election night win.
"The trademark was one of 77 approved Chinese trademarks Trump owned as of February 2017. One month later, China granted preliminary approval for another 38 trademarks in a hasty move described as 'weird' by one Hong Kong intellectual property consultant." businessinsider.com/trumps-conflic…
Only at letter 'C' and alrady exhausted... to be continued.
"At least 49 of Trump’s Chinese trademarks are up in 2020, potentially giving China a bargaining chip of its own as it negotiates with the Trump administration. Additionally, the state-owned Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has a lease with Trump Tower in New York City ...
"... worth an estimated $1.5 million per year, slated to end in October 2019. Trump’s New York property on 1290 Avenue of the Americas, partially indebted to the state-owned Bank of China, earned Trump more than $5 million last year.
"In China, the business of attempting to sell access to Trump through Mar-a-Lago memberships and straw campaign contributions has become a new industry of sorts, the Washington Post reported."
Ok. where were we? Still in #China: "As Trump’s term continued, it became evident that Ivanka Trump would also benefit from China’s apparent attempts to tempt the Trump administration.
"On April 6, 2017, the same night @IvankaTrump dined with Jinping at Mar-A-Lago, the Chinese government granted her approval for three new trademarks to sell products related to jewelry, bags and spa services."
"In November 2018, Ivanka Trump received approval for another 16 new Chinese trademarks ranging from VOTING MACHINES to sausage casing to handbags. Amid heated trade talks with the U.S. in January 2019, China approved five new trademarks for Ivanka Trump."
"At least 49 of Trump’s Chinese trademarks are up in 2020, potentially giving China a bargaining chip of its own as it negotiates with the Trump administration.
"Additionally, the state-owned Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has a lease with Trump Tower in New York City worth an estimated $1.5 million per year, slated to end in October 2019.
"Trump’s New York property on 1290 Avenue of the Americas, partially indebted to the state-owned Bank of China, earned Trump more than $5 million last year. The business of attempting to sell access to Trump through Mar-a-Lago memberships ... has become an industry."
