Judge Rejects Trump Effort To Block Emoluments Clause Lawsuit, Orders Suit To Proceed

U.S. District Judge Peter Missette on Wednesday rejected President Trump’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit filed against him by the attorneys general of Maryland and D.C. accusing him of profiting from doing business with foreign governments in violation of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution.

Missette wrote in a court order that the plaintiffs “convincingly argued” that the clause applies to a broader range of potential violations, not just outright bribes given to the president.



“The Court determines that Plaintiffs have convincingly argued that the term ’emolument’ in both the Foreign and Domestic Emoluments Clauses, with slight refinements that the Court will address, means any ‘profit,’ ‘gain,’ or ‘advantage’ and that accordingly they have stated claims to the effect that the President, in certain instances, has violated both the Foreign and Domestic Clauses,” Missette wrote.

The Hill added:

Trump is facing multiple lawsuits, both as president and as an individual, over alleged violations of the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits federal officials from receiving gifts or payments from foreign governments without congressional approval.

The lawsuit addressed in court Wednesday focuses on the profit Trump makes from foreign officials staying in his Washington, D.C., hotel.

Another lawsuit, brought by Democratic lawmakers in D.C., is still pending.