Trump Legal Woes Explode As Emoluments Clause Lawsuit Goes National

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Not only did the decision that Trump lost in federal court allow the D.C. and Maryland emoluments clause lawsuit to move forward, but it also opened the door for any of Trump’s business competitors around the country to sue the president.

Norm Eisen of CREW tweeted:

BREAKING: Maryland federal court has granted standing to MD and DC to proceed with #emoluments case as to Trump International Hotel in DC. We @CREWcrew are honored to serve as cocounsel with @BrianFrosh @AGKarlRacine. More to follow!

— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) March 28, 2018

IMPORTANT: not only do DC & MD have stdg here but "other States or…
businesses affected by the same sort of violations alleged…e.g., a major hotel competitor in Palm Beach (near Mar-a-Lago) or indeed a hotel competitor anywhere in…Florida, might…have standing." https://t.co/TmHgguMlSP

— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) March 28, 2018

The Emoluments Clause lawsuit has dogged Trump because and his family have decided to intentionally use the presidency as a vehicle for personal financial gain. For example, Trump has been billing the federal government for the rooms that the Secret Service stay in when Trump decides to spend the weekend in Florida at his private club.

The Emoluments Clause states, “[N]o Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them [i.e., the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”

Money has been flowing into Trump hotels from foreign government officials since he took office. The crux of the current lawsuit is that Trump is receiving illegal cash and benefits through his hotels from foreign governments. Any hotel in any state where Trump does business now has the standing to file a lawsuit against Trump for violating the Emoluments Clause.

Trump has a mountain of legal woes, but today’s ruling opened the door for Trump to lose his source of foreign cash.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

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