Sen. Murray and Senate Democrats urge Trump to divest holdings

Nearly two dozen senators — including Washington’s Senator Patty Murray — have signed a letter that urges President-elect Trump to follow the advice of the Office of Government Ethics and divest his business holdings.

Trump has been under continued scrutiny over his businesses in recent weeks, with many calling for the Manhattan real estate mogul to shift his business holdings to an independent party to resolve potential conflicts of interest and fulfill constitutional requirements before he assumes office.

Twenty three U.S. senators, all Democrats, signed the letter Tuesday.

The Office of Government Ethics, an independent, nonpartisan ethics agency, has recommended that Trump divest his business holdings.

“As a businessman with interests in the United States and around the world, your holdings have the potential for serious conflicts between the national interest and your personal financial interests,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Whether the President of the United States makes decisions about potential trade agreements or sending troops into war, the American people need to know that the President is acting in their best interest,” they continued. “Divestiture of your businesses and the establishment of a blind trust controlled by an independent party would provide assurances that you will put the interests of the American people first and are fully committed to the success of your presidency.”

The letter was led by Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.). It was also signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Co.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tom Udall (D-N.M), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).