Letter to the Honorable Loretta Lynch, U.S. Attorney General of the Department of Justice - Regarding a Conflict of Interest in the Investigation of Deutsche Bank by the Department of Justice

Letter

Dear Attorney General Lynch,

I am deeply concerned that President-elect Donald Trump's financial interests will present an unprecedented conflict of interest regarding the ongoing investigation of Deutsche Bank by the Department of Justice (DOJ). To maintain the American people's confidence in the credibility and impartiality of DOJ going forward, I urge you immediately to appoint an independent Special Counsel to oversee your Department's two pending investigations of Deutsche Bank.

President-elect Trump has refused to sever his connection with the Trump Organization, which is deeply indebted to Deutsche Bank. The Trump Organization obtained $364 million in loans from Deutsche Bank to finance a number of properties, including a hotel operating with a lease of government land in Washington, DC. At the same time, the Department of Justice is conducting two active investigations of the Bank: one for potential wrongdoing in a multi-billion-dollar offshore trading and money laundering scheme, and another regarding lending practices that contributed to the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009. At the very least, this raises the potential for the appearance of a severe conflict of interest -- denying American taxpayers assurance that a Trump administration will seek out the penalties against Deutsche Bank that are in the country's best interest, rather than terms based on the bank's ties to the President-elect's business empire.

Federal regulations provide you with the authority to appoint a Special Counsel to handle a criminal investigation if you determine that continued DOJ oversight of the matter "would present a conflict of interest for the Department or other extraordinary circumstances" and that the appointment would be "in the public interest." 28 C.F.R 600.1. The conflict presented by the incoming Administration's business ties to Deutsche Bank -- unparalleled in our country's history -- is just such an extraordinary circumstance, and ensuring the continued, unbiased pursuit of justice in this matter is manifestly in the public interest.

Under your leadership, our nation has led the world in bringing to justice those who use their official positions of power to engage in corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion. I believe that the appointment of a Special Counsel is vital to protecting this legacy, and I thank you for your consideration of this request

Sincerely,

Source