Ivanka Trump: Laws Broken And Legal Troubles

Ivanka Trump, daughter of former US President Donald Trump, has been accused of breaking the law on several occasions. In her role as a senior advisor to the president, Ivanka Trump has been accused of violating the Hatch Act, which limits certain political activities of federal employees. She has also faced scrutiny for her business ventures, with critics arguing that they could violate federal laws prohibiting government officials from profiting off the American public. Additionally, Ivanka Trump has been criticised for her use of a personal email address to discuss government matters and for her involvement in her father's financial statements, which were found to have fraudulently overvalued his real estate and inflated his net worth.

Ivanka Trump's use of private email

Ivanka Trump, the daughter of former US President Donald Trump, has faced scrutiny and criticism for her use of private email accounts to conduct government business during her time as a senior adviser in the Trump administration. This practice has raised questions about compliance with federal records laws and security concerns, particularly regarding the potential transmission of classified or sensitive information.

In 2018, it was revealed that Ivanka Trump had used a personal email account for official work on hundreds of occasions, including sending emails to Cabinet members, White House aides, and her assistants. While she claimed that all her emails were stored and preserved without any deletions, her actions potentially violated the Presidential Records Act, which requires the preservation of all presidential records. This law applies to all government-related documents and correspondence, and officials using private accounts are expected to forward the content to their government accounts.

The controversy surrounding Ivanka Trump's email usage is compounded by the stark contrast with her father's criticism of Hillary Clinton's private email use during the 2016 presidential election. President Trump repeatedly attacked Clinton for her use of a private email server when she was Secretary of State, even leading chants of "lock her up" at campaign rallies. However, when confronted with his daughter's similar actions, President Trump defended her, arguing that her emails were not classified or deleted like Clinton's and that she had nothing to hide.

The House Oversight Committee, led by Representative Elijah Cummings, launched an investigation into the private email use of Ivanka Trump and other White House officials. The committee sought information and communications related to the use of personal email accounts for government business, requesting compliance with the Presidential Records Act. The investigation aimed to ensure that Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner, and other officials were adhering to federal records laws and maintaining a complete record of their activities.

Ivanka Trump's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, stated that she always forwarded official business to her White House account and that no classified information was transmitted through her private email. Lowell also emphasised that Ivanka Trump did not create a private server or delete any emails, addressing key concerns that arose during the Clinton email controversy. Despite these defences, the investigation proceeded, highlighting the ongoing focus on transparency and accountability in government communications.

Violation of the Hatch Act

Ivanka Trump, daughter of former US President Donald Trump, has been accused of violating the Hatch Act, a federal ethics law, on multiple occasions. The Hatch Act, passed in 1939, bars federal employees from using their official positions to push partisan political outcomes and ensures that government works for all Americans, not just those with political connections.

Ivanka Trump served as Advisor to the President on job creation, economic empowerment, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. She has been accused of misusing her official position to promote her father's re-election campaign and the Trump administration's policy initiatives. Ivanka's Twitter account, @IvankaTrump, which she uses for both political and government business, has been at the centre of these accusations.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) claimed that Ivanka violated the Hatch Act eight times in just over 48 hours, with 30 violations on Twitter alone. In her tweets, Ivanka promoted the Trump campaign, detailed her movements on the campaign trail, and expressed confidence in certain states supporting her father's re-election. CREW argued that Ivanka was "using her official position to push a partisan agenda" and that her tweets were in violation of the Hatch Act.

The Office of Special Counsel (OSC), the federal agency that enforces the Hatch Act, has found that when a government official uses a Twitter account for official purposes, the Hatch Act prohibits them from using that account for political activity. Despite these findings, no members of the Trump administration have faced consequences for violating the Hatch Act, as enforcement generally falls to the President.

Conflict of interest

Ivanka Trump, daughter of former US President Donald Trump, has been accused of violating several laws and ethical standards during her time as a White House advisor. One of the main concerns has been the potential conflict of interest between her role as a government official and her business interests, particularly those tied to her father's organisation, the Trump business empire.

One instance of this conflict of interest is Ivanka's opening of a retail outlet in Trump Tower, New York City. This shop, selling purses, shoes, candles, and jewellery, is located in the same Manhattan skyscraper that houses other Trump businesses, including a restaurant and bar. Critics argue that this venture could violate federal laws prohibiting government officials from profiting off the American public and their ties to Washington. Ivanka's position in the White House, along with her father's presidency, could provide her business ventures with an unfair advantage and raise ethical concerns.

Another area of concern regarding conflict of interest is Ivanka's rental income of up to $5 million from the Trump Old Post Office LLC investment in Washington, D.C. This income may violate the Foreign Emoluments Clause, as diplomats representing foreign governments have attended events at the Trump International Hotel located at the site.

Ivanka has also been accused of violating the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from using their official positions to push partisan political outcomes. As a senior advisor to the president, Ivanka's Twitter account lists her official position, and she regularly uses it for official government business. However, she has also used this account to promote her father's re-election campaign, detailing her movements on the campaign trail and speaking positively about his presidency. This has led to accusations that she is using her official position and government resources to boost campaign messages and push a partisan agenda.

Additionally, Ivanka has been criticised for her use of a private email address to discuss government matters. This may have violated the Presidential Records Act of 1978, which requires the preservation of all official White House communications and records. Ivanka's extensive use of private email has raised concerns about the security and transparency of her communications, echoing the controversy surrounding Hillary Clinton's private email server use during her time as Secretary of State.

Violation of the Emoluments Clause

Ivanka Trump, daughter of former US President Donald Trump, has been accused of violating the Emoluments Clause of the US Constitution. The Emoluments Clause prohibits government employees from profiting from foreign governments without permission from Congress. Ivanka Trump, in her role as a senior advisor to the president, has been accused of using her position to bolster her personal brand and business interests, particularly when travelling the world to represent her father and the US.

One notable instance of this occurred when Ivanka dined with Chinese President Xi Jinping at her father's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. On the same day, China approved three new trademarks for Ivanka Trump Marks LLC. Critics argue that this was a violation of the Emoluments Clause, as Ivanka was effectively profiting from a foreign government without congressional approval.

In addition, Ivanka's business ventures, such as her retail outlet at Trump Tower in New York City, have also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Critics argue that these ventures could violate federal laws prohibiting government officials from using their positions to enrich themselves at the expense of the American public.

Ivanka's role in the White House has also led to questions about the application of the Foreign Emoluments Clause. Some commentators believe that she is subject to the clause due to her global business interests. However, others argue that her advisory position does not grant her executive power, and therefore she is not subject to the same restrictions as government officials with decision-making authority.

The interpretation of the Emoluments Clause and its applicability to Ivanka Trump remains a subject of debate, with potential legal and ethical implications.

Nepotism

Ivanka Trump, daughter of former US President Donald Trump, has been accused of nepotism. Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, have been accused of enriching themselves off her father's presidency. Ivanka has been accused of using her position as a White House advisor to advance her already sizable fortune.

Ivanka's appointment as a presidential advisor was particularly concerning due to the high risk of conflicts of interest. As a presidential advisor, she had access to classified information and was in a position to influence government policy. Ivanka's business ventures and financial interests have raised concerns about potential ethics violations and conflicts of interest. Critics have warned that her business ventures could violate federal laws prohibiting government officials from profiting off the American public.

In addition to concerns about conflicts of interest, Ivanka's appointment as a presidential advisor appeared to violate the federal anti-nepotism statute, which prohibits the president from hiring family members. This statute explicitly includes sons-in-law, making Jared Kushner's appointment similarly questionable.

Ivanka has also been accused of violating the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from using their official positions to push partisan political outcomes. She has been accused of using her Twitter account, which lists her official position, to promote her father's re-election campaign and push a partisan agenda. These actions suggest that she may be using government resources and her official position to boost campaign messages.

While serving in the White House, Ivanka and Jared Kushner did not draw salaries, but they reportedly earned up to $640 million from outside interests. Their financial disclosures revealed assets of roughly $760 million. Ivanka's business ventures, including her fashion brand and retail outlets, have raised concerns about conflicts of interest and the appearance of profiting from her government position.

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