What About the Emoluments Clause?

We have Republicans, Democrats, Unaffiliated, Green, and Tea Party Voters that read this blog ...... we may not agree on everything, but there is no excuse to ignore what is happening before our eyes. 

http://staugustine.com/opinion/2017-05-23/letters-editor

Each time someone stays in one of his hotels or plays golf at a Trump resort, President Trump violates Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8 of the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. It forbids elected officials from accepting monies from foreign governments. Although all presidents in recent history have divested themselves of their businesses or placed them into blind trusts, President Trump has refused to do so and retains ownership of his empire, while turning over the day-to-day management to his adult sons. Currently there are over 10 lawsuits pending regarding Trump’s business conflicts of interests as violations of the Emoluments Clause. His attorneys, however, insist the constitution applies only to foreign gifts, not payments for services.

To this voter, the fact that my president has outstanding business loans with the state-owned Bank of China, for example (for a Manhattan office building) and owns properties overseas (including in countries like Russia and Saudi Arabia), gives me pause.
The Trump Organization makes money every time someone stays at a Trump property, rents office space in a Trump-branded office building, or plays golf at one of his resorts. This is especially troubling as regards foreign properties. After all, his is a private, family-owned business designed to make money (for the family). And therein lies the problem. He is the first president to own a global business empire. He fails to understand that the presidency is not a business. Every building permit, subsidy, tax break and rack room price paid is money in his pocket. The fact that individuals might stay at a Trump property in order to curry favor with our leader makes the back of my neck tingle. The emoluments clause is there for a reason; not just to protect our elected officials from the appearance of impropriety, bribery and coercion, but also to protect the citizenry from elected officials who use their positions to increase their personal wealth and power while in office.
Kate Ramsey
St. Augustine