New Trump Executive Order Could Lead to Global Asset Forfeiture

President Trump issued an Executive Order allowing the government to seize the assets of people and corporations said to be associated with corruption and human-rights abuses, and he gave whoever holds the office of President global jurisdiction in this matter. Foreigners and US citizens all come under various parts of the decree. A corporation’s assets may be frozen if it employs a foreigner who commits an act of corruption to benefit the company. [There is no penalty for US citizens who do this, only foreigners.] Finally, those who who assist, sponsor, funds, provides goods or services for, or gives technological support to any foreigner targeted by this EO also can have their assets frozen. It is not stated who will determine guilt in these cases, so that means it will be the President, and there is no provision for due process of law. It is inevitable that this order eventually will be used, not for justice, but for political leverage. -GEG