Congressional Democrats can sue Trump over emoluments, judge says
WASHINGTON _ Almost 200 congressional Democrats won a ruling allowing them to proceed with a lawsuit claiming that Donald Trump is violating a Constitutional ban on receiving benefits from foreign governments while president without their permission.
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan denied a Justice Department request to dismiss the lawsuit, filed last year by Connecticut's Richard Blumenthal and other members of the House and Senate. The judge ruled they have legal standing to pursue their claim, while deferring his decision on other defense arguments.
Trump has stepped down from running his $3 billion empire but retained his ownership interests, a decision the lawmakers say violates the Constitution's Foreign Emoluments clause, which prohibits a president from receiving payments or gifts from foreign governments without Congress' permission.
Blumenthal has called the emoluments clause the Constitution's "premier anti-corruption provision." The Democrats are seeking an order compelling the president to notify Congress when he's offered an emolument, giving them the option to vote on whether to let him accept it.
_Bloomberg News
