November 23, 2016 Honorable Ashton B. Carter Secretary, Department of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301 Honorable eh Johnson Secretary, Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528 Honorable James Clapper Director, Office of National Intelligence Washington, DC 20511 Honorable John Brennan Director, Central Intelligence Agency 1000 Colonial Farm Road McLean, VA 22101 Ambassador Susan Rice Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs The White House 1600 Avenue Washington, DC 20500 Mr. Karl Remon Thompson Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Department of Justice Washington, DC 20530 Dear Secretary Carter, Secretary Johnson, Director Clapper, Director Brennan, Ambassador Rice, and Mr. Thompson: As you know, President-elect Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization have properties around the globe, most with the Trump name prominently displayed. Countries and territories in which these properties are located reportedly include: Azerbaijan, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Ireland, Israel, Istanbul, Panama, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay.] Drew Harwell and Anu Narayanswamy, A Scramble to Assess the Dangers of President-elect Donald Trump?s Global Business Empire, Washington Post, November 20, 2016. 1201 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. - Suite 300 Washington, D.C. 20036 0 (202) 780-5750 Now that Mr. Trump is the President-elect of the United States, these properties may be potential targets for terrorists, and are, therefore, an important national security issue. First and foremost, it must be a priority to ensure that those who live in, work in, or visit these properties are safe. While the Trump Organization undoubtedly has long had its own security measures, they likely do not and cannot match the level of security that can be provided by the United States government. In general, however, the United States does not offer security for private corporations either in the US. or abroad. We are confronted with an exceptional circumstance in which a newly elected president has numerous business interests in foreign countries and focusing on the national security consequences of these interests can?t be delayed until Mr. Trump?s inauguration. Further, if the Trump Organization and/or the US. is relying on foreign governments to provide security at any of these properties, this might allow the Trump Organization to reduce its own security spending. Such a ?nancial bene?t could implicate the somewhat arcane Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, which provides that no government of?cer may ?accept any present, emolument, of?ce, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince or foreign state.? As a result, Campaign for Accountability seeks responses, which we will share with the media, to the following questions: 1) Is the US. government or any US. government contractor providing either guidance regarding security or providing security to any Trump Organization properties? 2) What is the cost of any security measures provided by the 3) Are any foreign governments providing security to the Trump Organization? 4) Who is footing the bill for security measures: the Trump Organization, American taxpayers, and/or foreign governments? 5) Has the Department of Justice?s Of?ce of Legal Counsel or any other government of?ce prepared any sort of legal analysis regarding security provided by the US. 0r foreign governments to the Trump Organization? 6) Has the Department of Justice?s Of?ce of Legal Counsel or any other government of?ce - prepared any sort of legal analysis regarding payments made by foreign governments to the Trump Organization, including but not limited to payments for hotel rooms, meals, beverages, rounds of golf, and/or of?ce space in Trump af?liated properties? Unless and until President-elect Trump sells his business holdings, his properties present a substantial national security risk and raise important constitutional concerns. Americans need to be assured our government has a plan for dealing with these issues and need to know exactly who is absorbing the costs. In addition, any legal analysis regarding the constitutionality of payments for security and/or other costs at Trump af?liated properties should be released publicly so the media, watchdog groups and American citizens can understand the application of Emoluments Clause and judge for themselves whether the new president is acting within the parameters set forth in our constitution. looks forward to your response. Sincerely, L. Weismann Executive Director cc: Vice President-elect Michael Pence Trump Transition