The top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is calling for an investigation into President-elect Donald Trump's potential conflicts of interest.

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) on Monday urged lawmakers to review Trump's "financial entanglements" before he assumes office on Jan. 20, 2017, to ensure there are no conflicts of interest between the Trump White House and the Trump Organization.

"We have never had a president like Mr. Trump in terms of his vast financial entanglements and his widespread business interests around the globe," Cummings wrote in a letter to Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the committee's chairman.

"Moreover, we have not had a presidential candidate in modern times who has refused to disclose his tax returns to the American people," Cummings continued. "Mr. Trump's unprecedented secrecy and his extensive business dealings in foreign countries raise serious questions about how he intends to avoid conflicts of interest as president."

Following his stunning election victory last week, Trump said he would hand his business over to his children while he is in the White House. But critics point out they continue to advise Trump on politics.

"It is critical that we conduct this review as soon as possible to ensure that these questions are answered prior to Mr. Trump assuming office," Cummings wrote, saying the arrangement raises "serious questions."

"Now that Republicans control the White House and Congress, it is incumbent on you and other Republicans to conduct robust oversight over Mr. Trump - not for partisan reasons, but to ensure that our government operates effectively and efficiently and combats even the perception of corruption or abuse," he added.

News

13:36

Hillary Clinton will not be getting a pardon from President Obama.

And if Obama is to be kept to his word, neither will former CIA Director David Petraeus, convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, intelligence contractor Edward Snowden or Pvt. Chelsea Manning, all of whom were accused or convicted of mishandling classified information.

The reason is simple: None of them have applied to the Office of the Pardon Attorney for executive clemency.

bama specifically addressed “last-minute” presidential pardons at a news conference in August. “The process that I put in place is not going to vary depending on how close I get to the election,” he said in response to a question from USA TODAY. “So it's going to be reviewed by the pardon attorney, it will be reviewed by my White House counsel, and I'm going to, as best as I can, make these decisions based on the merits, as opposed to political considerations.”

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest confirmed last week that Obama hasn’t changed that philosophy after the election. “I wouldn’t speculate at this point about what impact that may have on hypothetical pardon requests that he receives.  I'll just say that the guidance that President Obama shared with you is still operative.”        

Speculation about a Clinton pardon, already rampant before the election, only intensified after the election of rival Donald Trump as president. At one debate, Trump told Clinton it would be bad for her if he were elected "because you'd be in jail." Trump aides have refused to rule out a prosecution after Inauguration Day.

That posture could increase pressure on Obama to pardon Clinton, but there's no indication that she's sought a pardon — or that she would accept one if granted. While some pardons have historically been granted on the grounds of innocence, they're often perceived as a sign of guilt.

It's not necessary for someone to be charged or convicted of a crime to receive pardon. President Gerald Ford pardoned his predecessor, Richard Nixon, in 1974, although Nixon had not been charged or convicted of a crime. Nixon resigned in August 1974 after the House Judiciary Committee approved two articles of impeachment against him.

News

13:27