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President-elect Trump explains why his sons will run the Trump family business while he occupies the White House.

President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyer addressed concerns at his __news conference over his business empire and potential violations of the Constitution’s “Emoluments Clause.”

The clause is an anti-bribery provision that forbids any U.S. president from receiving gifts from foreign leaders and is derived from the Latin word “emolumentum,” meaning “profit” or “gain.”

The Emoluments Clause is Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution. It prohibits any “Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States]” from accepting “any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”

The clause is relevant because Trump is the first U.S. president with a sprawling global business empire. The most immediate concern has been foreign diplomats booking hotels and conference rooms at Trump hotel properties in order to curry favor with him. According to Trump’s lawyer, who briefed reporters, he has decided to donate the proceeds from such stays to the U.S. Treasury as a precaution.

Yet, according to bipartisan ethics lawyers and constitutional scholars, hotel stays are just one of a number of ways foreign governments could seek to curry favor with the new president. For instance, a loan from the Bank of China on one of Trump’s Manhattan office buildings could qualify as an emolument, according to former White House ethics lawyers Richard Painter and Norm Eisen, who’ve been urging him to divest. Other examples include foreign government building permits, tax breaks and subsidies and even attempts to choke off would-be competitors. Even the conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board has called on Trump to divest.

Trump has at least 28 foreign properties and partnerships that could generate money from foreign officials and trigger a violation of the Emoluments Clause, according to a USA TODAY analysis of financial disclosure forms. Beyond those 28 foreign properties are a series of other deals that could expand that list of potential sources of foreign income.

"The decision President-elect Trump has made today creates a completely untenable situation," Fred Wertheimer, president of government watchdog group Democracy 21, said in a statement following his __news conference. "President-elect Trump’s actions reflect placing a priority on his personal business interests at the expense of the integrity of his presidency and the interests of the American people," he said.

"Benefits provided by foreign governments or private interests to Trump business ventures and problems that arise with Trump businesses will be benefits and problems that directly involve the president of the United States," Wertheimer said.

Read more:

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Trump's foreign deals risk Constitution clash

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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump shakes hands with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence during a campaign event to announce Pence as his running mate on July 16, 2016, in New York.  Evan Vucci, AP

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Trump and Pence arrive near the site of the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016, in Cleveland.  Evan Vucci, AP

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Trump gives Pence a kiss as they shake hands after Pence's acceptance speech during the third day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 20, 2016.  Mary Altaffer, AP

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Trump and Pence give a thumbs-up after Trump's speech during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 21, 2016.  Kelly Jordan, USA TODAY

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Trump, Pence and their families celebrate at the Quicken Loans Arena on the final day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 21, 2016.  Shawn Thew, European Pressphoto Agency

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Trump, joined by Pence and his wife and daughter, speaks at a reception following the Republican National Convention on July 22, 2016, in Cleveland.  Evan Vucci, AP

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Trump and Pence shake hands as they arrive at a campaign stop at the The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center on July 25, 2016, in Roanoke, Va.  Sara D. Davis, Getty Images

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Trump and Pence arrive for the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention on July 26, 2016, in Charlotte, N.C.  Evan Vucci, AP

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Trump and Pence shake hands during a campaign rally at Lackawanna College on July 27, 2016, in Scranton, Pa.  Evan Vucci, AP

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Trump and Pence walk to a car after landing for a campaign rally on Aug. 5, 2016, in Green Bay, Wis.  Evan Vucci, AP

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Trump arrives after being introduced by Pence before giving an economic policy speech to the Detroit Economic Club on Aug. 8, 2016.  Evan Vucci, AP

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Trump and Pence meet with flood victims during a tour of flood-damaged homes in Denham Springs, La., on Aug. 19, 2016.  Max Becherer, AP

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Trump and Pence help to unload supplies for flood victims during a tour of the flood-damaged area in Gonzales, La., on Aug. 19, 2016.  Max Becherer, AP

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Donald Trump greets Mike Pence as he takes the stage for his immigration speech at the Phoenix Convention Center on Aug. 31, 2016.  Ross D. Franklin, AP

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Trump and Pence talk with the press on Sept. 5, 2016, aboard his campaign plane while flying over Ohio.  Evan Vucci, AP

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Trump and Pence visit the Canfield Fair on Sept. 5, 2016, in Canfield, Ohio.  Evan Vucci, AP

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Trump and Pence greet each other at an event hosted by the Economic Club of New York at the Waldorf Astoria hotel on Sept. 15, 2016.  Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty Images

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Trump welcomes Pence to the stage as he addresses supporters at the Stranahan Theater on Sept. 21, 2016, in Toledo, Ohio.  Angelo Merendino, Getty Images

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Trump greets Pence during a campaign rally on Oct. 22, 2016, in Cleveland.  Evan Vucci, AP

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Pence welcomes Trump to the stage during a campaign event about the Affordable Care Act on Nov. 1, 2016, in Valley Forge, Pa.  Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

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Trump shakes hands with Pence as he gives his acceptance speech during his election night rally on Nov. 9, 2016, in New York.  John Locher, AP

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House Speaker Paul Ryan shows Pence, Donald Trump and Melania Trump the view of the inaugural stand that is being built and Pennsylvania Avenue from the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill on Nov. 10, 2016.  Alex Brandon, AP

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Trump and Pence stand together at the entrance of Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J., on Nov. 19, 2016.  Carolyn Kaster, AP

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Trump and Pence watch employees work during a visit to a Carrier factory on Dec. 1, 2016, in Indianapolis.  Evan Vucci, AP

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Trump and Pence stand onstage together at U.S. Bank Arena on Dec. 1, 2016, in Cincinnati.  Ty Wright, Getty Images

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Trump and Pence react to supporters during a rally on Dec. 8, 2016, in Des Moines, Iowa.  Charlie Neibergall, AP

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Trump shakes hands with Pence during a rally at the Orlando Amphitheater at the Central Florida Fairgrounds on Dec. 16, 2016, in Orlando, Fla.  Evan Vucci, AP

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Trump stands with Pence before his news conference in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York on Jan. 11, 2017.  Evan Vucci, AP

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