Rep. Katherine Clark's Accountability Bill Introduced to Congress

ARLINGTON, MA — Democratic members of Congress introduced bills in the House and Senate on Monday that would require the president and vice president to resolve financial interests that could conflict with their official responsibilities, just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.

The Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act is primarily sponsored by Rep. Katherine Clark, who represents the 5th Middlesex District of Massachusetts which includes Arlington, along with representatives John Conyers of Michigan, Richard Neal of Massachusetts, Elijah Cummings of Maryland, Peter Welch of Vermont and David Cicilline of Rhode Island. It would mandate that presidents recuse themselves from any matters involving personal financial interests that could conflict with their official duties.

According to a release, 82 members of the House of Representatives have co-sponsored the legislation.

Several Democratic members of the Senate, including Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, were original co-sponsors of the bill.

"The President of the United States has the power to affect how our tax dollars are spent, who the federal government does business with, and the integrity of America’s standing in a global economy," Rep. Clark said in a statement. "Every recent president in modern history has taken steps to ensure his financial interests do not conflict with the needs of the American people. The American people need to be able to trust that the President’s decisions are based on the best interests of families at home, and not the President’s financial interests."

Warren slammed the President-elect on Twitter Monday for his lack of transparency with his business dealings and urged him to follow precedent:

Image via Gage Skidmore

Story by Alex Newman, Patch Staff