Use civil penalties to reclaim Trump’s corruptly stolen assets

Americans should study how countries such as Peru, the Philippines, and Nigeria recovered wealth stolen by authoritarian rulers, because the United States may face a similar challenge after Donald Trump leaves office. Trump has used the presidency to enrich himself and his family on an unprecedented scale. Although criminal prosecution may be difficult, civil penalties and asset recovery could expose and reclaim money allegedly obtained through corruption, bribery, extortion, insider trading, or market manipulation. The experiences of other countries offer mixed lessons. Peru recovered about $200 million linked to Alberto Fujimori, the Philippines recovered roughly $5 billion from the Marcos dictatorship, and Nigeria recovered about $1.5 billion associated with Sani Abacha. Recovering corrupt assets requires permanent investigative institutions, independent enforcement, and international cooperation. More importantly, recovering Trump-family wealth would not merely provide justice. Since money can finance future political influence and shield corruption from accountability, asset recovery may be necessary to prevent an authoritarian restoration and protect American democracy.