Donald Trump Violating The Constitution, ACLU Charges As It Begins Legal Action Against New US President

President Donald Trump swore an oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States” at his inauguration Friday. Yet, just hours before, the American Civil Liberties Union announced it was beginning legal action to obtain documents related to his possible conflicts of interest that violate the constitution.

The group filed a Freedom of Information Act request Thursday to several government agencies seeking legal opinions, memoranda, advisories and communications from various departments. It also released a seven-point plan indicating how it intends to challenge Trump’s policies.

“We are bringing this first legal action using the Freedom of Information Act to underscore the fact that President Trump is not above the law,” Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, said in a press release.

“Trump took the oath, but he didn't take the steps necessary to ensure that he and his family’s business interests comply with the Constitution and other federal statutes.

“Freedom of information requests are our democracy’s X-ray, and they will be vitally important to expose and curb the abuses of a president who believes the rules don’t apply to him and his family."

Trump sought to address concerns over conflicts of interest regarding his businesses and Trump Foundation at a press conference Jan. 11 by stating that he was relinquishing control of the Trump Organization to his two sons, Eric and Donald Jr., as well as a long-time executive.

“Don and Eric are going to be running the company,” he said. “They are going to be running it in a very professional manner. They're not going to discuss it with me. Again, I don't have to do this.”

Trump was referring to the federal conflicts-of-interest law that covers Cabinet secretaries but not presidents. However, he resisted calls to place his proceeds in a blind trust and a number of ethics experts have said his plans do not go nearly far enough.

The fact that he will continue to benefit from foreign holdings and from foreign governments will put him in violation of Emoluments Clause of the Constitution from day one of his presidency, Richard Painter, the former chief ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush, has said.

But speaking the day before he took office, the incoming press secretary, Sean Spicer, reiterated Trump’s stance that his business dealings are within the bounds of the law.

"The president-elect has no conflicts by law," Spicer said. "He has gone above and beyond in what he has done to make sure there are no conflicts."