To the editor:

President Donald J. Trump continues to disrespect protocol and has shown complete disregard for the long-standing tradition that in order to avoid, at the very least, the perception of a conflict of interes, as all U.S. presidents throughout history to which have complied completely, that is with the notable exception of President Trump who refused to comply during his first term in office, and continues, sadly, into this, his second term, that is to divest themselves of all of their private businesses and enterprises for the good of the country, to be returned, if they so choose, upon completion of their time in office.

Recently, and alarmingly, it has been reported that President Trump began a cryptocurrency project just prior to his inauguration for this second term in office, and, as a result, has received “several tens of millions of dollars from anonymous donors,” and that Trump and his family have already made more than $250 million in crypto sales. It has also been announced that the 220 top buyers of his Trump meme coin would receive invitations to a private session with President Trump at the Trump National Golf Club in Maryland, and it has been reported that the “guest list” will most likely include foreign lobbyists, convicted criminals, Russian oligarchs, among many such others.

Has he no shame?

As Michael Tomasky of “The New Republic” has stated: “Donald Trump’s crypto money working scheme is the most corrupt thing any president has ever done, by a mile.”

Perhaps, not surprisingly, Congressional Republicans, although very harshly critical over Hunter Biden’s alleged “influence peddling scheme” but shockingly such actions taken by Trump has essentially generated no scrutiny or criticism from his Congressional Republican sycophants, which is, sadly, not all surprising.

Richard Hord

Martins Ferry