Unreal.
Justice Department is actually arguing Donald Trump can take foreign payments, like payments for his hotels (that are suppose to be in a blind trust) and golf club fees at his golf properties (that are suppose to be in a blind trust).
They are challenging CREW, who has brought a suit against the President and says he’s violating the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution.
Laurence Tribe, who’s a part of CREW, responded quickly on Twitter and looks forward to responding in court. Says he expected this response.
I guess when you’re dealing with a dictator it’s to be expected.
Donald Trump believes he’s above the Constitution.
thehill.com/…
Lawyers for the Justice Department are arguing that President Trump isn’t violating a Constitutional provision that bars federal officials from accepting payments from foreign governments because the clause doesn’t apply to certain transactions.
In a new brief asking a judge to throw out a lawsuit brought against Trump by ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), DOJ lawyers contend that the foreign emoluments clause doesn’t apply to “fair-market commercial transactions” like payments for hotel rooms and golf club fees, according to Bloomberg.
www.bloomberg.com/...
“Neither the text nor the history of the clauses shows that they were intended to reach benefits arising from a president’s private business pursuits having nothing to do with his office or personal service to a foreign power," the government said in the filing. “Were plaintiffs’ interpretation correct, presidents from the very beginning of the Republic, including George Washington, would have received prohibited ‘emoluments.’”
"It’s clear from the government’s response that they don’t believe anyone can go to court to stop the president from systematically violating the constitution," CREW said in a statement. “We heartily disagree and look forward to our day in court."
As part of the suit, CREW seeks access to Trump’s tax returns and other financial records. The group has said Trump should liquidate his business holdings and put the proceeds in a blind trust.