A growing controversy is unfolding in Washington after U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin demanded answers from the head of the United States Patent and Trademark Office regarding trademark filings tied to President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace.”
Raskin sent an 18-question letter to USPTO Director John Squires, questioning why the agency applied for trademarks covering the Board of Peace name and logo. He raised concerns that the filings may have been used to conceal financial or legal structures connected to the initiative.
The “Board of Peace,” introduced by Trump in September as part of a proposal to address the war in Gaza, would reportedly allow countries to gain permanent membership by contributing $1 billion toward the board’s operations.
Raskin accused the administration of potentially creating a “secretive private slush fund” involving taxpayer and foreign government money. The USPTO, however, said the trademark filings were made to stop cybersquatting and prevent bad actors from misusing the Board of Peace branding. Squires later told lawmakers the filings were tied to national security concerns and an “immediate cybersquatting land grab.”
The White House has not publicly responded to the latest allegations. Raskin requested answers from the USPTO by May 19, adding more political pressure to an already controversial initiative.
Source: Reuters
