Trump Says He's Leaving His Business To 'Fully Focus On Running The Country'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Donald Trump says he's leaving his "great business'' so he can "fully focus on running the country."
Trump tweeted early Wednesday that legal documents are being crafted to "take me completely out of business operations,'' adding, "the presidency is a far more important task!''
"While I am not mandated to do this under the law, I feel it is visually important, as President, to in no way have a conflict of interest with my various businesses," he said in the series of tweets.
Trump had been under criticism for exposing himself to potential conflicts if he kept a role in his global business while being president.
Richard Painter, who was a White House ethics lawyer under the Bush administration, said handing over operation of the company to his children won't go far enough.
"What's critically important is that he divest himself of ownership interests in the business," he told 1010 WINS' Steve Kastenbaum. "Because foreign government money may not be paid to any United States government official."
Trump said he'll hold a news conference with his children on the subject on Dec. 15.
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