Does the Anti-Nepotism Statute Preclude Trump from Appointing Kushner?

[Gatestone Institute] [Facebook] [Twitter] [RSS] [Donate] [Does the Anti-Nepotism Statute Preclude Trump from Appointing Kushner?] by Alan M. Dershowitz • January 10, 2017 at 4:00 pm Donald Trump (left), his daughter Ivanka (center), and his son-in-law Jared Kushner (right). (Image source: ABC video screenshot) The controversy over President-elect Trump's expected appointment of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, raises serious constitutional issues regarding the separation of powers. Congress, which holds the purse strings, may have the power to withhold the salary of a relative who the president wants as an advisor. But it is doubtful whether Congress has the constitutional power to preclude the president -- who heads the executive branch -- from appointing whomever he chooses as a White House advisor. This is because the separation of powers limits the authority of any one branch to dictate to another branch how it shall conduct its government business. Accordingly, the Supreme Court of the United States does not feel bound by Congressional enactments regarding the recusal of judges for conflict of interest, or other rules of ethics enacted by Congress to constrain its judicial activities. The question of when one branch intrudes on another is often a matter of degree, but each branch guards its independence jealously. [Continue Reading Article] You are subscribed to this list as {EMAIL}. To unsubscribe, go to [ To edit your subscription options, go to [ To subscribe to the this mailing list, go to [ [Gatestone Institute] 14 East 60 St., Suite 1001, New York, NY 10022