House Democrat grills US trademark office on Board of Peace backers

Source: Reuters

March 18 (Reuters) - The top Democratic member of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee accused the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Wednesday of helping obscure who controls ‌and profits from Republican President Donald Trump's Board of Peace.

U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin said in a ‌letter to USPTO Director John Squires that the agency's unusual move to apply directly for trademarks covering the board's name and ​logo appears to have been "used to conceal the existence of legal and financial structures designed to funnel money to the President for his unilateral use."

The Maryland legislator said it raised "serious concerns" that the government agency, rather than representatives of the board, applied for the trademarks. The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold an ‌oversight hearing on the USPTO next Wednesday.

A ⁠Trump administration official said there was no truth to Raskin's allegations and that the trademark applications were meant to prevent impostors and other bad actors from misusing ⁠Board of Peace branding. The official also said the board has been transparent, citing its charter and public inaugural meeting.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/house-democrat-grills-us-trademark-143708506.html