Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and other congressional Democrats are introducing legislation on Wednesday that would restrict contributions to presidential libraries.
The bill, the Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act, comes after Donald Trump‘s settlements with Paramount Global and Disney to settle his lawsuits, each for $16 million. The lion’s share of the money from those settlement was directed to the president’s future library.
Trump also accepted a jet from Qatar that is being overhauled for use as Air Force One. He said that the 747 is a gift to the Department of Defense, but will later be decommissioned and go to his presidential library.
The Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act would require that presidents wait until after they leave office before fundraising or accepting donations. The exception would be 501(c)3 organizations, which could still donate, but they would be limited to a total of $10,000.
Another provision would prohibit contributions from foreign nationals, lobbyists, contractors, and individuals seeking pardons for two years after a president leaves office. It also would prohibt the conversion of library donations to personal use, mandate quarterly disclosure and prohibit straw donations.
Warren is joined by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) in sponsoring the bill.
With GOP control of Congress, it’s chances of advancing are a long shot. But it’s an indication of the areas that Democrats may scrutinize should they win back control of either chamber in next year’s midterms.
