A lawsuit filed by 200 congressional Democrats alleging President Trump is violating the Constitution by accepting payments from foreign governments can move forward, a federal judge ruled Friday.
The Constitution’s emoluments clause prohibits presidents from receiving payments from foreign governments, without congressional approval, and was meant to prevent corruption and foreign influence.
Trump’s hotel just blocks away from the White House has hosted events for foreign governments and visiting officials while he’s been in office.
The group of Democrats, led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., want the court to stop Trump from accepting such payments, or force the president to first get congressional approval.
If Democrats’ allegations are true, then “the president is accepting prohibited foreign emoluments without asking and without receiving a favorable reply from Congress,” Judge Emmet G. Sullivan wrote in his ruling.
“As soon as the president accepts a prohibited foreign emolument without obtaining congressional consent, his acceptance is irreversible,” Sullivan said. “Accordingly, plaintiffs adequately allege that the president has completely nullified their votes.”
Trump stepped away from managing his businesses when he became president but still maintains ownership.
Trump’s legal team has argued congressional approval is not necessary because the payments are not emoluments.
The Trump Organization has said it donated $151,470 from profits it made from foreign governments. It has not clarified how it determined that amount.
The attorneys general in Washington, D.C., and Maryland are also suing Trump over the emoluments clause.
