The dispute between Democrats and Donald Trump entered new territory: that of the rules to prevent presidential power from becoming a source of private enrichment. The Democratic leader of the Senate, Chuck Schumer, presented an initiative to create an independent Anti-Corruption Office, with broad powers to investigate the Executive and recover money that, according to Democrats, has been obtained through corrupt practices.

The announcement comes less than four months before the November midterm elections, in which Democrats seek to regain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. According to The Washington Post, the proposal is part of a broader strategy by the party to present voters with a reform agenda before the elections.

Schumer, accompanied by senators Alex Padilla, Jeff Merkley and Andy Kim, argued that the economic dimension of the businesses linked to the president and his family requires establishing new surveillance mechanisms.

“In just 18 months, the Trump family has obtained more than $4 billion dollars by taking advantage of the influence of the presidency,” Schumer denounced.

The accusation is based on a report released earlier this month by Senate Democrats, which maintains that Trump has earned more than $2 billion since his return to the White House and that his family's businesses have generated more than $4 billion. The Washington Post itself reported that Trump declared income of about $2 billion over the last year, mainly related to cryptocurrencies and other businesses.

The proposal, called the Anti-Corruption Bureau Creation Act, aims to go beyond a specific investigation. According to the text presented by the senators, it would create the first independent federal agency specifically dedicated to combating corruption in the Executive Branch and preventing presidents from turning public office into a source of private profit.

"First, give Americans their money back. Second, ensure that no one can steal from them again," Schumer explained when presenting his goals.

The body would be led by seven members confirmed by the Senate, with partisan balance: three Republicans, three Democrats and one independent member. It would have powers to issue subpoenas, investigate, monitor and enforce anti-corruption provisions.

The initiative also proposes concentrating under the new office functions that currently correspond to three organizations: the Office of Government Ethics, the Federal Electoral Commission and the Office of the Special Advisor.

“Our bill would empower any person, including a state attorney general acting on behalf of the people of his or her state, to sue to recover money stolen from the public through government corruption,” Schumer said.

This mechanism would constitute one of the most relevant elements of the proposal: it would allow citizens and state attorneys general to go to court to try to recover resources illegally obtained by presidents, senior officials, certain campaign figures and large government contractors.

The project also seeks to financially shield the organization from retaliation from the White House. Democrats propose creating a self-sustaining financing fund, inspired by the Federal Reserve model, with the purpose of preventing a president from reducing his budget to neutralize his investigations.

Schumer summarized the political objective of the proposal with a warning that is intended to transcend the current president: “My bill will create a private right of action that will allow Americans to recover the money that Trump and his family have taken from them.”

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