Senators Chris Murphy, Jeff Merkley, and Chris Van Hollen, on July 15 at a press conference, opposed the Digital Asset Market Transparency Act (CLARITY Act), arguing that the bill does not address “Trump’s cryptocurrency corruption”—referring to how Trump connects his business interests with the crypto industry through meme coins, World Liberty Financial, and other companies.
Press Conference Statements From the Three Senators: The Core Argument of the Moral Clause Push
(Source: Chris Murphy)
Based on the content of the press conference, the three Democratic senators’ specific positions are as follows: Murphy said that if the bill cannot stop Trump from corrupting the crypto industry, then it is “meaningless,” and he called it “fundamental corruption” if the bill grants legal protection to Trump’s misconduct; Van Hollen and Merkley also said they are against the bill due to the absence of a moral clause. Elizabeth Warren previously also urged the bill to address “blatant financial corruption.”
When the three lawmakers attended, representatives from the U.S. financial reform organization “Indivisible” and Hollywood actor Ben McKenzie also spoke. The backdrop for the press conference was that Trump’s 2025 financial disclosures show he profited $1.4 billion from crypto-related investments.
The 60-Vote Threshold and the Key Voting Arithmetic: Republicans Have Only 51 Available Votes
According to reports, passage of the CLARITY Act in the Senate requires a supermajority threshold of 60 votes. The Republican seat count is as follows: after Lindsey Graham died this month, the GOP’s majority in the Senate fell from 52–47 to 51–47; Mitch McConnell, as of Tuesday, remained hospitalized, further limiting the available votes. This means that, for a possible vote, Republicans could have only about 51 senators present—if they received no support from Democrats, they would still be at least 9 votes short of the 60-vote threshold.
Cynthia Lummis said that lawmakers will release the latest text of the bill in “the next few days.”
FAQ
What is the CLARITY Act’s current status in the Senate?
According to reports, the CLARITY Act passed the House nearly a year ago and is currently under discussion in the Senate. It is also part of the “Crypto Week” agenda alongside the GENIUS stablecoin bill; Thune pledged to schedule a vote by August 10, and Lummis said the bill’s text would be released in “the next few days.” The exact timing of the vote will depend on the Senate’s official agenda announcement.
Why do the three Democratic senators oppose the CLARITY Act?
According to reports, the core reasons Murphy, Merkley, and Van Hollen oppose the bill are that it does not include a moral clause to address conflicts of interest between Trump and his cryptocurrency business interests; Trump’s 2025 financial disclosures show he profited $1.4 billion from crypto-related investments. Elizabeth Warren previously also urged adding a moral clause for the same reason.
Has the CLARITY Act received support from other organizations?
According to reports, despite opposition from multiple lawmakers, the CLARITY Act has received support from two law enforcement organizations—the National Black Police Officers Association and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association—saying it will help combat crimes related to digital assets. Trump himself has also publicly urged the Senate to pass the bill. The specific legislative progress will be determined by the Senate’s official announcements.
