Olszewski Champions Anti-Corruption Amendments in Budget Reconciliation Process

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Johnny Olszewski led a series of anti-corruption amendments aimed at preventing presidential self-enrichment during consideration of the budget reconciliation bill that passed the House today in a 214–212 vote. Olszewski voted against the bill, which provides $70 million more for immigration enforcement without any reforms or funding to lower costs for struggling Americans.

Olszewski’s amendments were filed to the rule governing consideration of the legislation, which passed the U.S. Senate earlier this week. His amendments would:

“Public office is a public trust—not a get rich quick scheme,” said Congressman Olszewski. “Americans expect their leaders to put the country's interests ahead of their own bank accounts. These amendments would establish basic safeguards to ensure that no President can use the power of the office to enrich themselves, benefit their family, or secure special treatment that is unavailable to anyone else. 

It’s disappointing that these amendments were not considered after zero Republicans on the Rules Committee supported them. Integrity should not be a partisan issue.”

President Trump's net worth has increased by more than $4 billion during his second term as he and members of his family have pursued a range of business ventures while occupying the White House, including cryptocurrency schemes, selling Trump-branded merchandise, and even suing the federal government. The President recently agreed to drop his $10 billion lawsuit in exchange for sweeping immunity from IRS audits – one of which could have resulted in a $100 million tax bill, according to media reports. 

The President has also benefited from prolific stock trading while in office. His own ethics filings show he completed more than 3,700 stock transactions in the first three months of this year alone, or about 60 trades per day. President Trump bought hundreds of thousands of dollars of stock in a software company that he later praised – and posted its stock ticker – on his social media site. The President recently purchased as much as $50,000 in stock of the parent company of UFC – which is currently erecting a massive arena on the White House South Lawn for a for-profit, live cage match on Trump’s 80th birthday. 

Fighting corruption has been a top priority for Olszewski in his first term in Congress. He previously introduced two constitutional amendments to rein in the abuse of the presidential pardon power and to establish term limits forSupreme Court justices, among other pro-accountability measures.