Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Judge rejects Trump push to dismiss emoluments lawsuit
The Hill ^ | 03/28/2018 | Morgan Gstalter

Posted on 03/28/2018 10:32:00 AM PDT by GIdget2004

A federal judge has rejected President Trump’s push to dismiss a lawsuit against him for allegedly violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution.

U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte in Maryland shut down the Justice Department’s arguments to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the attorney generals in D.C and Maryland, according to court documents.

Trump is accused of violating the clause, which prevents elected officials from receiving gifts or benefits from foreign governments without Congress’s approval. --This breaking news report will be updated.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: 4thcircuit; dnctalkingpoints; emoluments; emolumentsclause; fourthcircuit; judiciary; nevertrumpers; petermessite; politicaljudiciary; rapinbilljudge; resistancejudge; trumpworld; zte
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next last
To: rjsimmon
My reading of that is that the Constitution says the President can't take any extra compensation from the Federal Government or from any state government. It seems pretty damn clear to me.

Anyway, doesn't President Trump not accept his salary but donate it?
 

21 posted on 03/28/2018 11:21:05 AM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (CNN is fake news.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: GIdget2004

Good!

It will be better to the fascists slammed in a higher court.


22 posted on 03/28/2018 11:22:28 AM PDT by G Larry (There is no great virtue in bargaining with the Devil)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Governor Dinwiddie
My reading of that is that the Constitution says the President can't take any extra compensation from the Federal Government or from any state government. It seems pretty damn clear to me.

Absolutely correct. The Federal judge is wrong. In the case of ruling in violation of the Constitution, he should be suspended pending judicial review.

Anyway, doesn't President Trump not accept his salary but donate it?

Correct, but irrelevant. He is still paid a salary, which is Constitutional. He receives no other payments from the US Government as part of his duties and thus is not receiving other emoluments.

23 posted on 03/28/2018 11:28:32 AM PDT by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: rjsimmon
If that were true then why hasn't any president ever been taking to court under it?

The Department of Justice, in a 1974 Opinion Letter, by Assistant Attorney General Scalia, suggested that this clause does not apply to the president: “when the word ‘officer’ is used in the Constitution, it invariably refers to someone other than the President or Vice President.”(Emphasis in original.) Scalia relied on an 1878 Supreme Court case concluding that “officer of the United States” only refers to appointed officials.

I contend that no one knows for sure, since is has never been litigated. I've heard arguments that it does not apply to the President or VP. Trump, nevertheless has contended that it does NOT apply to the president, but he has taken the step to return any money made thru Trump holdings while he is president.

24 posted on 03/28/2018 11:30:15 AM PDT by nikos1121 (Let's get Newt in there in some capcity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121

I would posit that in the Scalia case, he was quite incorrect. The Emoluments Clause is in Article II Section I regarding the office of the President and specifically states that the President shall not receive other Emoluments from the United States or any other (meaning individual States).

Just because it has not been contested in court does not give way that no one knows what it is about. Those that are against The Donald are simply throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks and to keep the POTUS in constant defense mode.


25 posted on 03/28/2018 11:35:33 AM PDT by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: rjsimmon

I agree with you.

I’ve heard some pretty clear headed thinking that the framers did not intend for the emoluments clause to pertain to the president and vp.

https://www.propublica.org/article/emoluments-clause-overturning-185-years-of-precedent-let-trump-off-the-hook


26 posted on 03/28/2018 11:42:14 AM PDT by nikos1121 (Let's get Newt in there in some capcity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121

Nice article but the author is lying when he says the Emoluments Clause is about foreign payments. I believe the professor that ProPublica cites may be insisting the same thing, that the clause has nothing to do with foreign payments. In that respect, I agree. The clause is crystal clear as to its intent, the FF’s did not want the POTUS to be getting side payments from the US or any of the various States, which would be tantamount to bribery.

But the essence of the article is a straw man argument. It builds its case regarding foreign payments when the clause has nothing to do with that.


27 posted on 03/28/2018 11:51:14 AM PDT by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: GIdget2004

The president appeared in front of reporters with a woman attorney shortly before his inauguration.

They had a mountain of manila file folders piled in front of them.

The president explained how his business interests were being turned over to sons Don Jr. and Eric.

The profits from his foreign investments were going to be donated to the U.S. Treasury.

Meanwhile, the president is only accepting a salary of one dollar per year.

This lawsuit is just harassment from moonbat liberals. The “judge” must be one as well.


28 posted on 03/28/2018 11:51:30 AM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation (Washington is NOT a swamp.....It's a cesspool!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rjsimmon

There are more than one emoluments clauses. The Foreign Emoluments Clause, Article I, Section 9, Clause 8, also called the Title of Nobility Clause is probably the one used in the lawsuit.


29 posted on 03/28/2018 11:55:44 AM PDT by PaulJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: PaulJ

You are quite correct. Forgot about that one. The one flaw in their argument, however, is that Article I Section 9 refers to what Congress can receive.


30 posted on 03/28/2018 12:00:53 PM PDT by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: rjsimmon

If Trump is avoiding the controversy by making sure that any revenue rec’d from foreign governments etc is not going to him, then why is there any issue?

However, let’s take the real offender. If the emoluments clause pertains to people holding office in the federal govt then Hillary Clinton violated it FAR and AWAY more than anyone probably 100 times over. I fail to see where Trump has benefitted.

There is nothing in the emoluments clause, as I see it that requires him or Pence to sell all their holdings. And that apparently is what they bast*rds are trying to pull here.


31 posted on 03/28/2018 12:10:45 PM PDT by nikos1121 (Let's get Newt in there in some capcity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: rjsimmon

Art I, Sec 8

“8: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, 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.”


32 posted on 03/28/2018 12:12:55 PM PDT by xzins (Retired US Army chaplain. Support our troops by praying for their victory.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121
I’ve heard some pretty clear headed thinking that the framers did not intend for the emoluments clause to pertain to the president and vp.

PaulJ pointed out, correctly, that there is more than one emoluments clause (spaced that one). So your comment is quite correct as the pertinent section is regarding the Congress. I take back what I said about Saint Scalia. He was correct in his opinion. I shall have to say a few Hail Scalia's...

33 posted on 03/28/2018 12:13:44 PM PDT by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121
If Trump is avoiding the controversy by making sure that any revenue rec’d from foreign governments etc is not going to him, then why is there any issue?

Like I said earlier, I believe the opposition is in assault mode, keeping The Donald on (what they believe) the defensive.

However, let’s take the real offender. If the emoluments clause pertains to people holding office in the federal govt then Hillary Clinton violated it FAR and AWAY more than anyone probably 100 times over. I fail to see where Trump has benefitted.

Agreed. I have long given up holding my breath awaiting indictments...

There is nothing in the emoluments clause, as I see it that requires him or Pence to sell all their holdings. And that apparently is what they bast*rds are trying to pull here.

Concur. The clause falls under limitations on the Congress.

34 posted on 03/28/2018 12:18:44 PM PDT by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: rjsimmon

Who is that Fox contributor, short chunky guy, I think he was an advisor to Romney maybe Santorum too. He teaches a government course at some college.

He was on Fox some months back and said he’s been teaching about the emoluments clause in his classrooms for years, that it does NOT pertain to the Pres and VP.

Who am I thinking of?


35 posted on 03/28/2018 12:23:57 PM PDT by nikos1121 (Let's get Newt in there in some capcity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121
Dunno. Any one on this list?

Fox Contributors

36 posted on 03/28/2018 12:30:54 PM PDT by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: xzins
This is another politicized judge.

Yup. The dems want to hamstring Trump like they did Palin, raise a bunch of ethics questions that takes time, effort, and money to fight off. Palin just walked away eventually and they'd love for Trump to do the same. The difference between Trump and Palin though is a few billion dollars and the best lawyers in NY. He's not going to be held back by this sort of nonsense.

37 posted on 03/28/2018 12:39:20 PM PDT by pepsi_junkie (Russians couldnt have done a better job destroying sacred American institutions than Democrats have)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: GIdget2004

I read recently that Trump properties have lost billions since he became president. These people will poop their panties if we have to cut a check to him to cover his loses.


38 posted on 03/28/2018 12:43:25 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin (Wisdom and education are different things. Don't confuse them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hal ogen

Yes, nitwit is gender neutral.


39 posted on 03/28/2018 12:46:16 PM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Robert DeLong

Isn’t “Jo” the female spelling? Are you certain Peter identifies as male? And what is zir’s pronoun, just to be tolerant of ze.


40 posted on 03/28/2018 12:51:08 PM PDT by Sgt_Schultze (When your business model depends on slave labor, you're always going to need more slaves.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson