Lawmaker Criticizes Trump over Potential Business Conflicts of Interest

ABC News(WASHINGTON) — While his Republican colleagues have largely held their tongues since Donald Trump won the presidential election, Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan called the president-elect out after Trump suggested people shouldn’t be surprised that his business interests could conflict with his position in the White House.

Amash, who called for Trump to end his candidacy after a 2005 video of his making lewd comments about women surfaced, took to Trump’s preferred communication platform — Twitter — to criticize him.

You rightly criticized Hillary for Clinton Foundation. If you have contracts w/foreign govts, it’s certainly a big deal, too. #DrainTheSwamp https://t.co/boUkAfbF6S

— Justin Amash (@justinamash) November 22, 2016

He was responding to Trump’s tweet Monday night, in which Trump said, “Prior to the election it was well known that I have interests in properties all over the world. Only the crooked media makes this a big deal!”

Prior to the election it was well known that I have interests in properties all over the world.Only the crooked media makes this a big deal!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2016

Amash, who represents a more libertarian wing of the House Republican conference, first endorsed Sen. Rand Paul in the presidential race and then Sen. Ted Cruz once Paul dropped out.

But he did sound a hopeful note once Trump won, tweeting that he looked forward to working together “to defend liberty.”

Congratulations to President-elect @realDonaldTrump. Let’s work together to defend liberty, the Rule of Law, and the Constitution.

— Justin Amash (@justinamash) November 9, 2016

Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email
Share on print
Print