Critics of Trump's presidential library fundraising say "there are no rules" [View all]
Source: CBS News
July 16, 2025 / 7:00 AM EDT
President Trump's efforts to direct millions of dollars to his future presidential library has drawn fresh attention to a lack of visibility into the identities or potential interests of the donors who are funding it, a longstanding Washington concern facing past presidents from both parties.
Two prominent Senate Democrats say they are preparing to introduce a bill Wednesday that would regulate fundraising for presidential libraries, according to documents shared with CBS News. "Donald Trump is using his presidential library as a tool for bribery while he is still in office," said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, who is introducing the legislation with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, of Connecticut. "Many of the donations to Trump's future library are coming straight from companies and special interests that need a favor from Trump," Warren said. "Right now there are no rules."
The effort was spurred by a series of announcements about gifts to the Trump library, including an opulently appointed Boeing 747 given to the U.S. Air Force by the Qatari royal family for the president's use, after which it would be donated to the library for Mr. Trump's post-presidency.
The proceeds of four large legal settlements with the president are also reportedly bound for his library fund. The multimillion-dollar settlements stem from Mr. Trump's lawsuits against Meta, ABC News, X (formerly Twitter) and Paramount. Paramount is the parent company of CBS News. The funds from the four settlements alone could total up to $63 million, according to a CBS News review of news reports and court documents.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-presidential-library-fundraising/
Link to PRESS RELEASE - Warren, Moskowitz, Blumenthal, Raskin, Stansbury Introduce New Bill to Rein in Potential Corruption Through Presidential Library Donations
Link to BILL TEXT (PDF) - https://www.warren.senate.gov/download/warren-presidential-library-anti-corruption-act-of-2025-bill-text
Link to BILL 1-PAGER (PDF) - https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/warren_presidential_library_anti-corruption_act_1-pager.pdf
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