Where is the tax return he promised?
He is swimming in his own swamp.
Three card Monte and we forget yesterday.
The man does not know who he is.
No lawyer can represent a pathological liar.
This White House: don’t stop the carnival.
Sound familiar?
4
Trump realizes he has two options if he wants to stay in office.
The first of these is to fire Mueller sooner rather than later. There is no way the House would impeach Trump right now because there isn’t nearly enough evidence or political will to do so. He might then counter both legal and constitutional challenges well enough to avoid removal by taking early action.
If Mueller continues his investigation for weeks or months into the future, however, things could be much different. The accumulating evidence of his shady business deals, the constant iteration of instability within the administration, the daily press briefings filled with denial and defense of scandalous regular front-page controversy would force Congress to act much differently. House Republicans facing the reality of what they have in the White House would more than likely throw up their hands and turn on him with a vengeance.
The second option is to go to war. By doing so, there would be no impeachment proceedings at all, and we might have a frightening implementation of some sort of national emergency status that would involve suspension of normal constitutional protections. That would put Trump above the rule of law and make him look like a Putin.
Hence you have changes in the National Security establishment going on now bringing credibility to the desperation of Trump’s situation.
5
These are shameful people motivated solely by greed and self dealing.
7
He is stealing from all if us and giving lip service in return...no one will do anything until he bankrupts the country. His goal in bankrupting the country is simple: terminate SS and medicare and sell federal to himself and his friends for pennies in the dollar.
9
Beware dumping Trump. Pence would remain. Focus on the illegitimate 2016 election and discredit all the results, including Pence and the Supreme court appointment. "Interstate Crosscheck", an illegal, racist voter suppression campaign designed by Kris Kobach, denied the voting rights of over one million US citizens in 29 states. This resulted in the Republicans taking power against the the large majority of voters. Kobach was also instrumental in the W. Bush theft of America in the crooked Florida voting scandal. Now this racist un-American program is echoed in the suppressing census citizenship question.
12
Pence is already implicated in obstruction of justice. The Pence threat has been a Trump tool to discourage dissent since he got the idea to buy off the Evangelicals by appointing him as head undertaker and VP. Pence lied about not knowing about Flynn - and the record proves it. Pence will fall as surely as Trump, though not as hard - not for high treason, and betraying counter intelligence sources to the Russians to save his own hide.
6
At last, a cogent, powerful and accurate assessment of the prospects facing America and the danger Pence & Co. represent. Dave is correct on all points, my congratulations! I strongly recommend, Dave, that you expand your comment to a letter to The Editor and also send it to as many Congressmen and Senators you can, excluding, of course, Trump Enablers.
2
Doesn't it seem that the requisite of pecuniary injury is inapposite to this situation that involves a president doing precisely that which the constitution proscribes? Is not the violation of the constitution an injury to all Americans? If the pecuniary injury requirement is in force what becomes of a situation where the injured chooses, either in good or bad faith, not to sue? Does the injured become the licensor of the president's unconstitutional act?
This administration is so corrupt it seems that everything it touches turns to a stain on our democracy. And the Republican complicit congress allows it and looks the other way time after time. Were this a democrat, one could hear Republican heads exploding on the other side of the planet. From guns, immigration, tax policy, healthcare and veterans affairs that Trump would love to privatize, along with those in his orbit's contacts with Russians and his family member's positions in the White House, there has been not one moment of accountability. Instead, we get obstruction and non-answers from congress and Sarah Sanders who dances around the questions relevant to governing. Her canned answer to every question is the "President has been consistent and has addressed this issue in detail and we have nothing to add." But the questions haven't been answered and no details are ever provided. McConnell and Ryan remain silent and Devin Nunes sneaks around at night getting his obstruction orders from the White House under the cover of darkness. Trump has no concerns about the emoluments violations. And with congress protecting him I fear that no matter what crimes are exposed in Robert Mueller's findings, the Republican congress will do nothing to protect our democracy. They will put party over country every single time even if it includes treason.
We're witnessing the death of American democracy in real time and the introduction of the authoritarian state in America.
12
Trump divorce himself from his businesses ??
Like asking me to divorce myself from water..
4
Now let's just get on with the suit - no more delays. Let it inevitably find that Trump and his cohorts are criminals.
10
Yes!!! No more delays on all his illegal dealings...the rest of 'us' - the ordinary and average - would be sitting in a cell counting the days...
1
The worst, most divisive, most corrupt US administration ever!
What bothers me the most is the continuous usage of institutions like in this case, the DOJ, to fight Trump "personal" battles and grievances.
No wonder we have seen many of his cabinet members abuse the resources of their office. They take their cues from the top.
Thank God we can still count on courageous judges to allow courageous citizens to try to level the play field.
20
Except for all the others. These boards are getting as bad as HuffPo.
1
Michael Avenatti will bring down this crook and his band of criminals long before Robert Mueller and the courts do.
6
Don't you just love it when a plan comes together! Using Trump's corrupt, mob playbook against him was brilliant. Kudos! I can see the steam coming out of his ears right now!
5
Hope they slap a RICO suit on him and make him forfeit all his properties.
12
Look at my shocked face a democrat attorney general gets a democrat appointed judge to approve a frivolous lawsuit.
NOW that's news!
1
Seems you feel blatant conflicts of interest take a back seat to tribal loyalties.
3
Maybe it's because that Democratic attorney generals and Democratic appointed judges are more ethical than Republicans? Could that possibly be the reason?
8
You are aware that Trump is trying to appoint ultra conservative federal judges as fast as possible to uphold Republican duplicity? Of course you are.
5
GOOD! Trump is treating the United States and its citizens like a Banana Republic. Everything he does is personal. Trump cares about two things only: Trump and $$$ - and more $$$.
There is no corporation in the world that would interview him for a job, let alone have him work there as an executive. TRUMP IS A LOSER and a pathologic liar.
14
Funny. When I voted for Clinton, my Republicans friends said the if she were elected there would be an endless string of lawsuits and investigation of the President. So I voted for Clinton anyway and sure enough that is what is happening.
17
As far as I’m concerned, the more lawsuits against Trump, the better! Why? Because he’s trying to put himself above the law!
He’s boasted he could publicly shoot someone and get away with it. He’s openly flaunted his conflicts of interest - and won’t stop any of them. He’s earning money every time he “vacations” in his own properties. In fact, every time he visits any one of them, it’s free advertising!
He is the most ethically and morally compromised person ever to hold the highest office in the land. Ever to TARNISH the very office he holds! Ever to tarnish the White House. Making it more like Bleak House.
It’s about time he has to face the courts. Women are suing him. Public interest groups are suing him. May the lawsuits continue! Because, unfortunately, the Courts seem to be the only institutions currently standing in his way.
He’s attacked the Justice Dept, Judges, and the Mueller investigation.
BUT:
He is NOT above the law!
20
Remember, the entire reason Trump even campaigned was he found he could make money off it by using his own plane, facilities and merchandise.
Now, he's got taxpayers funding his weekly trips to his resorts and so much free publicity. Has Donnie Jr announced the Trump Wall Building Company yet?
The scam Trump is running on our country will be his biggest yet.
Let's hope Mueller rewards him with the most criminal charges an American president has ever seen. It will be huge!
14
Strange that people are concerned that the wealthy are in control. Haven't they always been? The founding fathers were not worried about too little democracy, they were worried about too much. Thus wealth was a requirement for participation. It still is. This is just one consequence. It needs to be carefully thought through and dealt with and it seems this judge is willing to start the process.
4
This is a no-brainer. Foreign, state & local interests stay at Trump businesses to curry favor with the President. Clearly a violation of the emoluments clause. I'm shocked there's even a debate on it.
19
And this is just one small incident of potential conflict of interest.
Trump and Trump Organization business interests are wide ranging, international, varied and complex.
This is just the tip of a very big iceberg.
You cannot serve two masters. You cannot be President of the United States and CEO of Trump Inc.
14
"That suggests that officials from Maryland and Washington might feel “obliged, i.e., coerced, to patronize the hotel in order to help them obtain federal favors,” the judge wrote."
The first thing that came to mind was the dinner AG, Jeff Sessions, Deputy AG, Rod Rosenstein and Solicitor General, Noel Francisco ate at a restaurant across the street from Trump Tower.
Certainly this show of solidarity infuriated Trump. One of which was, How dare his minions not eat at the table of the king.
This little man is surrounded in lawsuits and investigations. Trump probably does revel in the challenge of playing a game of chess regarding the rule of law. What he turned a blind eye to is that the goliath he is facing, whose charge is to uphold the rule of law, is far greater, smarter, a superior chess player than he.
Donald John soon you and our nation will hear the words, Checkmate, you loose sir.
7
RE: "the federal government’s claims that the plaintiffs had not shown that they had suffered injuries that a court could address." "Lawyers for the Justice Department argued that there was no proof..."
Shouldn't the government be advocating for the people? Why is the DOJ protecting Trump's business dealings? That should be his lawyers, not ours.
RE: "The president’s other business interests — such as the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida — are not at issue, he found, because they have no clear effect on the plaintiffs."
Evidence again that it should be the Government, the DOJ, that should be pursuing Trump on the emoluments clause, not local entities.
38
The DOJ is beholden to the king!
2
Makes me think a) can a business person objectively be President?, b) we need to have a clause that requires tax returns to be made public, c) the cost of all of this inquiry into the Prez, the protection of him and his family while they gallivant around (not to mention the losses suffered by area businesses on fifth Ave near TT and Florida near Mar-a-Lago), and other costs to us need to be looked at and the allowables redefined.
8
Agreed! Office should have a budget with strict upper limits on what can be spent for incidental travel and secret service family coverage. Hit the budget before year end and you're out of luck. It comes out of your own pocket or you stay home.
2
In this nation, the Constitutional requirements to be President are to be a natural born citizen, and be at least 35 years of age. There is no provision that the President not have any business interests. If there were such a provision, it would exclude from office anyone with an interest in an active business offering goods and services to the public at large.
I suppose we could say that the emoluments clause is violated every time someone seeking government actions eats at McDonalds, if the President owned McDonalds stock. Similarly, anyone buying anything from Washington's Mount Vernon estate violated this clause if they were also seeking some form of favorable government action.
The way this is often addressed is for the public official to put his assets in a blind trust. Of course, that is ridiculous. The trust solution may work when someone owns a few shares of stock, but not when someone owns an enterprise that would have to be liquidated.
Seems to me that the way of addressing this "concern" is that the President agrees to not review the hotel registers, to see who checked into his hotel.
Its a silly issue designed to harass and distract.
2
The ruling may be specific to the hotel for the purpose of standing but the benefits Trump is obtaining from the presidency has grown into an entire industry of government for sale. That may well have always been the case but it begs the question, at what point does the facade of democracy no longer work when the government is so obviously for sale? I would suggest we are long past that point and with the election of Trump, democracy is hanging by a thread. This attempt to claw back a small piece is worthy.
2
No, the person deciding to run for President needs to think about this before running and winning. Oh, I forgot, he was not planning on winning. This was all a branding ploy gone very bad.
3
Disingenuous overreach is the hallmark of the rationalizers who would normalize Trump. All but those who will not see can see the difference.
Anyone who works in business these days is required to take conflict of interest classes. We are taught to even avoid the appearance of conflict of interest. We recognize a conflict of interest when we see it.
But there are too many that would hold no standard to Trump while holding others to them. There are too many would allow Trump to be King.
16
The N.Y. judge dismissed this and they just went shopping for a judge. When this gets to SCOTUS it will be dismissed.
6
A case was brought in NY because of Trump property in NY. The DC and Maryland cases relate to DC and Maryland Trump properties: each were granted standing. It's not judge shopping.
14
But Judge Messitte found that the local governments “have alleged sufficient facts to show that the president’s ownership in the hotel has had and almost certainly will continue to have an unlawful effect on competition.”
I agree wholeheartedly with the Judge and his position...may this proceed, although Trump will probably appeal and ask for a stay.
24
The one thing that is most evident is that "the now" President Trump is most likely guilty of multiple impeachable offenses. The country and media, so precious, so ruled by Plutocracy can no longer reasonably consider to rock the boat.
12
There was never a doubt in my mind that Trump's interest in the Presidency was motivated by a desire for power and his intention to use the presidency to advance his business interests. In his mind, the two run hand-in-hand, since people without money are "losers." Thus, we have none of his tax returns because they would reveal cheating. He has not divested his business interests and his daughter and son-in-law run around the world making personal business deals. Our Republican Congressmen knew quite well that Trump was (and is) an unscrupulous monster. My hope is that it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to turn a blind eye. Of course, they will act only if he becomes a clear liability, which hopefully, will be demonstrated in the coming elections. If Republicans lose, it will not merely be a repudiation of Trump. It will reflect voters' disgust with their complicity in destroying democracy and ignoring the needs of the many.
141
Indeed. Gaining the Presidency was also Trump (and his enablers) cynical bid to hide or legalize criminality. If the truth were fully exposed about the 2016 election, I think it would reveal the forces that put Trump in office were able to do so by stealing the election.
20
VERY well-stated!
2
Another faulty ruling that will be thrown out once it reaches SCOTUS. Plaintiffs do not have standing to sue according to a long series of cases. Seems liberal judges don't care about such things as precedent anymore because TRUMP!
4
To anyone that thinks the decision is "faulty" I would simply ask, did you read the decision? If not, then the faulty opinion is likely yours.
4
According to a long series of cases that you do not provide. I'll trust the judge knows the law of his state better than you do.
3
All else aside, legal precedent does not have to be followed in any given case, if indeed there is a legal precedent here. This is what judges are for - to uphold the law. Everything cannot be codified and "the Law" is a living, morphing construct that adapts to changing situations. The underlying principle that counts is objective, not subjective, justice.
1
So nice they finally realized what many Americans realized over a year ago: it's called the Emoluments Clause.
24
Why didn't people listen to Walter Shaub when he made his first statements about the absence of Ethics in this government?
2
Why didn't people realize what a charlatan Donald Trump is before voting for him?
1
I don't understand. I will never understand. However once again, it boggles the mind.
Can someone please explain to me why is our Justice Department defending? Was the lawsuit filed against the government or Trump?
I guess that is a battle for another day.
24
It’s because he is being sued in his official capacity as President.
2
While I'm happy to see such a strong consensus for decency and the rule of law, I'm nagged by the fact that this story, along with nearly every Trump corruption story covered in the Times, will not even be covered on Fox News. Every now and then, I grit by teeth to see what that network is up to. Last night, it was wall to wall coverage on the "brave" stand Orange County is taking against California's sanctuary regulations. There's little that can be done about this, but we must always remember that millions of Americans don't have the slightest clue about Trump's corruption and legal problems, other that to say it's nothing but a left-conspiracy and "witch hunt."
58
Hint: faux news is not really a news channel - it is a clown show propaganda machine.
4
And Faux News is fed now by a blackmailer (American Media) and a fake news aggregator, (Newsmax), which are each owned by friends of Trump who helped engineer his election by burying hurtful stories (mistresses) and promoting helpful stories (mostly fake news of Trump's fake 'giving' - like that check in the mail to veterans who are about to see their VA privatized).
3
The depth and breadth of corruption in the trump administration is mind blowing . It is so layered and complex, but money and greed on the part of trump and his crime family, seems to be the common thread. Trump is a world class con man, who sought the presidency to prop up his fragile ego. Nothing more. History will be very unkind to trump. It already is.
31
Although the man is twice-divorced, this is one divorce that's never gonna happen. He loves himself too much.
1
I remember it like yesterday, all those empty file folders stacked on tables. in the lobby of Trump Tower, and Trump's promise to get out of business while he served the country. Liar. Go Maryland!
40
Can this vile person masquerading as a president pardon himself?
11
The answer to the question, "Can Trump Pardon Himself?": No.
The right to pardon specifically to evade being held accountable or commit a crime (in this case, obstruction of justice) is specifically excluded from the pardon powers.
2
Why won't Trump reveal his tax returns? Why won't he divest of his investments and put the funds into a blind trust? Why did he become President? The answer to all of this is the same reason he sees for living: To enrich himself and not be caught behaving badly in order to do so. He is not interested in governing. He has little interest in politics. What is he interested in? Himself. Period. And his 'being', his sense of 'himself', if there is any 'self' there, is to make money. So he got a few base talking points from a couple of corrupt friends and blustered his way to the Presidency by appealing to the banal instincts in humans. Why? To use the Presidency as a tool to make more money. Please remember these things when you read about this beast called "Trump".
50
Just to be clear, Trump is not the only president that obtained financial benefit from the office. They all do. That he is the most transparent, crass and boorish example and seems positively uninformed and careless with the actual job is besides the point. This problem has existed for a long time, it took Trump to make most Americans aware of it I suppose.
1
I wonder what America is coming to. First they elect a man of no presidential caliber. Then they proceed to back him on all things. The republicans continue to back all his judgments and all his faults as a human being. The congress and senate follow him like a lapdog.
America use to be a country of common sense and then they lost that too.
Impeachment is the only way to get out of the fallow that has become our gov't.
Remember November is coming to rid ourselves of the dismal actions of the party that noes no bounds.
Also, let's get rid of Citizens united. The Supreme court doesn't know everything.
Term limits are the only answer and not becoming a lobbyist for ten years for all politicians and judges after there tenure is over.
33
Let me get the insanity of this straight. The president who is accused of profiting personally from being president gets to have the US government defend him? Justice is supposed to be blind, not stupid.
92
In spite of all the bizarro things that Trump does, I have always felt that legally removing him is way the most probable because of his financial circumstances, even though he's a proven idiot in dozens of other ways
11
Well, there's at least one judge who realizes that cesspools don't drain swamps.
42
Most. Corrupt. President. Ever!
34
Sad!
Lordy, this time there will be a tape.
6
It seems our president is gaining
Some money for himself yet feigning
No interest at all
In his place near the mall
As his reputation is waning
17
What makes me sick is the hundreds of thousands of dollars (don’t want to think millions) the federal government is wasting protecting the business dealings of this scoundrel.
42
'Republican' means in some foreign language mean 'what's good for the goose is NOT good for the gander'
5
Good news!
Sad that it takes so long. The so-called president and his family are still in pl,ace to harm the country and LOOT, LOOT, LOOT.....
11
Thank you!!! Finally some justice is peering into the work of this charlatan!!
13
Trump is breaking the record for most unconstitutional endeavors, call Guinness.
14
Great!
BUT this' the least of Trump's mounting problems.
There's Mueller...Enough said!
5
Is there a Trump International Correction Facility?
11
Privatizing prisons was one of Trump's goals, so stay tuned . . .
1
The creators of the show "The Americans" had no idea that their show would be so timely. But even at the height of the Cold War there was nothing like this, that the President of the United States of America would become a compromised Russian asset, beholden to the Russian President, and doing everything he can to assist the enemy. Trump is a Traitor.
17
The Americans never would have gotten past testing with a script proposal as hackneyed, preposterous and outrageously overextended as some paranoid fantasy that libertarians would conspire with Russian organized crime and a former KGB officer to put a Kompromat owned stooge into the Presidency. That story wouldn't have made it out the 'elevator pitch' stage.
1
Over the last 30 years our presidents have shown some mild discretion by waiting until after they have left office to cash in with lucrative speeches and other ways of becoming wealthy. Donald Trump claims to have been a billionaire prior to being elected president so his greedy hog at the trough behavior seems rather gluttonous and obscene since he has been feathering his own nest since day one in the White House. Don't even get me started on his family, his in-laws, etc. Such behavior merely reinforces what most of us already knew, The United States has shifted from democracy to plutocracy. Trump has surrounded himself with rich cabinet members. Our Senators and Congress members are increasingly affluent. It really is disgusting and repulsive. That old song said it best: "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer." But most of us are not having fun.
37
Trump opens a hotel across from the White House and that should have been an automatic red flag he does not follow the rules. When the casino he built in New Jersey was being built he was fighting with New Jersey officials and gathering up long term tax breaks. Yet his GOP base knew this and elected him any way . I don't trust any GOP leader especially Trump now or in the future. I hope this court action will be able to stop his breaking the rules but I am sure his evil lawyers will whine about it and he will win.
10
Things have gotten out of hand. It's time for the courts to stamp out illegal corruption and force scoundrels to limit themselves to legal corruption. Citizens United, earmarks and so forth.
12
Is Michael Cohen representing Trump, and is he, out of the goodness of his heart, pay Trump's all legal fees associated with the lawsuit?
8
No, Cohen is not representing Trump. Our Justice Department is....which I really do not understand.
2
The Dept of Justice is defending/representing Trump and taxpayers are footing the bill.
2
At the very least this will establish precedence. You can't serve both your country and your personal interests. Our founders recognized the potential conflict and wisely included the emoluments clause in our constitution. Thankfully we're still a nation of laws and our judges are demonstrating why the three branches of government are equal under the law.
This lawsuit isn't an attack on Trump. Instead it's a reminder to anyone who seeks to serve the public that they will be expected to make necessary sacrifices to ensure there's no conflict. If you're not willing to divest, don't run for office.
42
The laundry doesn’t own the clothes.
1
A setback for the Trump crime family's attempt to pillage the United States for personal gain. But just the tip of the iceberg. "Follow the money" - it may very well lead to Russia and fun and games with money laundering. More popcorn please!
14
It's not just Trump. It's Wilbur Ross, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, and many others, who have used their public office for private profit. Which, I believe, is the definition of corruption. Read the report from Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch. I'm sorry, but there is no mention of Stormy Daniels or any Russians.
Link:
https://www.citizen.org/sites/default/files/pcgtw_follow-the-money_march...
11
The Russian puppet provides so much grist for the mill. And the Democrats didn't even have to plot his downfall the day before his innauguration or organize a "grass roots" movement out of an elitist think tank to generate outrage.
2
Try to remember
This coming November
How Trump was slow
But quick to bellow
Try to remember
This coming November
When truth turned green
And Congress yellow
Try to remember
This coming November
When legal tender
Bought shallow fellow
Try to remember
And if you remember
Choose leaders
Not cheaters
And be mellow
28
Brilliant~
5
The tide is turning. Our "so-called" president will no longer be allowed to do as he pleases. No one is above the law. There will be accountability for his actions and he and his ilk will suffer the consequences. Justice will be served. The day of reckoning is at hand.
9
I think this is great. I have serous doubts about its legal merits. On the other hand courts repeatedly reject attempts to make surplus of otherwise arguable statutory and certainly constitutional texts. So it could fly however doubtful. But it's great because this is obviously becoming an American legal custom of harassing incumbents with legal claims. It's great because I think if done to both parties we may see candidates who are closer to lily white than they have been, which would be a fantastic achievement. Candidates with serous flaws might be discouraged from running. That would certainly be a bit of improvement.
8
It's always useful to read the source documents, isn't it? This is a very narrow ruling on the pleadings and standing issues. It allows the suit to proceed only as to the Trump Hotel in Washington D.C., and finds that the plaintiffs lack standing to assert claims as to other Trump operations in the U.S. or around the world.
The decision also does nothing to address the merits of the plaintiffs' claims, which might still be amenable to dismissal under Rule 12 or on summary judgment under Rule 56 - and one may be certain there isn't a motion permitted under the Civil Rules that the Trump attorneys will not pursue.
I hate to take the wind out of everyone's sails, but this is a bit of a nothingburger. It's a baby step along a potentially lengthy and perilous highway.
2
Blah blah blah. It appears to be a good example of Trump cashing in on his Presidency.
7
Seems that trump would find comfort by resigning. Hence, another piece of evidence that he has committed legal and ethical crimes, lacks common sense, and further, sorely personality disordered. The mental unraveling will continue...
2
There still aren't enough legal troubles like albatrosses hanging around president Trump's neck. He deserves so many more just desserts on his plate. That President Trump has violated our American Constitution is beyond dispute, but probably won't lead to his impeachment. There are too many Trump voters who have his back and shout via social media and tweets his vomitrocious mantras like "Make America Great Again!" and "Drain the Swamp", etc. So many Americans would be joyful to see civil lawsuits, criminal inquiries, and litigation re Trumpian emoluments and Trump's continuing business interests in the US and abroad. And speaking of abroad...
4
This is existential to Trump. It is all he knows. Being President was all about parades and rose pedals. Trump doesn't know governing. Trump's essence requires him to keep hold of his Trump empire least his blows away like dust in the wind.
2
Hmm, it seems to me that this is a suit agains the office holder, not the office. So why are taxpayers paying for Justice to defend Trump in this suit?
16
And WHY is the Justice Department involved in this suit? Is Trump using yet more government resources for private gain?
12
I wonder if the Trump Hotel in DC takes payment in Bitcoin? It would be an easy way to hide the identity of guests.
1
When Trump took office, the initiation fee for membership at Mar-a-Lago immediately doubled, from $100,000 to $200,000. Right there, isn’t that a clear violation of the emoluments clause?
14
No, no - that was just a coincidence. Just like the payout to Stormy - many years after their fling but right before his run.
3
We must all thank the selflessness of the 45th president in endeavouring to act outside the normal realms of proprietary, and thus bringing the laxness of actual law and legal judgments of these conventions to the attention of the judicial system. Centuries of presidential behaviour has been directed by conventions established and followed by all, without an opportunity for these conventions to be legally tested in a court of law. Due to 45th's selflessness It is likely future presidents will have significantly more legal precedents to govern their actions when trying to make a buck out of being president elect.
6
A commendable effort on the part of the complainants, to be sure. I'm afraid there is not likely a snowball's chance in a real hot spot of yielding any tangible results in the next 3 years. Not even sure the progress made toward a precedent will be worth the burn rate of legal interns.
Amazing how few concrete restraints on presidential finances exist. Small wonder nobody waits until they are out of office to get rich. Worse part is there isn't a better tool to get hold of his tax documents. These really should be available in the public interest. Of course a normal candidate would have agreed and made them available in the interest of getting elected. Wonder what a GOP Congress would say about IRS finding some obscure loophole requiring their release?
Trump would probably claim non-profit exempt status.
30
While Trump likely doesn't know squat about "states rights," it's been a prime argument since the late 1850's of the good-old-boys, most of whom comprise Trump's 'base.' Well, fellas, states rights works both ways: Live by states rights, Die by states rights.
1
Can someone explain the slow pace at which all of this is proceeding? Shouldn't determining whether or not the president should or should not be the president have some urgency about it?
3
Um. Alito, Thomas, Roberts, Gorsuch, Kennedy = 5. No chance Trump will ever be punished even if found guilty of receiving emoluments, which is itself debatable.
2
Hopefully, the case will be decided before it reaches the Supreme Court.
Otherwise, we know how that will turn out.
5
I'm in politics and a close friend of mine is an engineer. no doubt he'll look at me like this judge has deliberated and decided two plus two equals four, much like when we put this guy in office and voted two plus two was five.
The Dept of Justice is being used by the President to protect the President from being investigated/held accountable for the possibility of personal self-enrichment on account of holding the Office of the Presidency.
You need new laws, America.
7
The amount of lawsuits swirling around this family is mindboggling! To have so many MUST mean that there is at the very least, a very unethical business model that they all seem to adopt and attempt to force on others. This is a family whose dirty, little secrets are beginning to see the light of day and hopefully, when Mueller's through, will undergo a thorough cleansing to kill any more of their scourge.
8
One good thing about this presidency is that the people have learned more about our government and laws to prevent corruption than we did in high school Civics class. Who knew having a corrupt president could be so educational!
134
You are so correct. I learned a lot about cabinet appointments , as well as laws that I never even knew existed. Emoluments? Never heard the term until this last election !
1
So what, who cares, it will take a long time to get to the supreme court.
It's true that 45 will likely have been run out of office by the time this particular suit is settled, but I'm sure his company will be able to make the plaintiffs whole while he sits in a jail cell.
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We, the people, care. Future U.S. oligarchs-posing-as-presidents beware, our Constitution means something to us!
5
" Emoluments, shumoluments ". GOP Congress. Besides, Hillary did it too, when SHE was President. Right ???
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When was she president, I missed that one.
I don't see how the Justice Department can even defend this case - doesn't Trump benefit from his govt "service" in that way, too? If Trump wanted to be really transparent and ethical (snort!) he would openly ask government officials (ours and everyone else's) and those doing business with the US to NOT stay at his hostelries anywhere in the world. Just be super clear about not benefiting as determined in the emoluments clause. But being ethical and transparent apparently is not part of "draining the swamp" or MAGA.
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More trouble in paradise for trump. We can expect more trips on the taxpayers dime to Mara Lago.
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I think Trump greatly over-estimated his ability to corrupt judges.
I look forward to see his tax returns subpoenaed and made part of public court record.
And he had better not use taxpayer money for his defense.
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hasn't he already done that : Justice Dept IS defending him ! shouldn't this be his PERSONAL affairs ? why should Justice Dept spending taxpayers' money to "exonerate" him ?
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"And he had better not use taxpayer money for his defense." I believe he is already under suspicion for this very same thing for his 'Rusher' investigation defense after his tweet earlier this week. I hope he goes down in FLAMES!
3
The people's White House is not Mr. Trump's once-in-a-lifetime money making opportunity. The corruption of the Trump family shall find no sanctuary in the office of president of The United States.
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And so the rule of law takes one small tentative step forward.
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God bless this judge. Judges should rule without fear or favor.
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Yes they should and as the constitution requires. You live in Canada, so bless your judges, not mine.
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@vulcanalex I must have missed the clause in the Constitution that provides for a judge to be influenced by fear or favoritism. Please elaborate.
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Plenty of Americans live in Canada. And non-Americans are also entitled to their opinions.
5
Trump owned properties are just the tip of the iceberg for the Con Don. They are there in stone and mortar so Trump can't hide them. And he does not care about ethics or morals, so whatever he can get from those venues he knows he can keep. Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell don't care either. They have guaranteed The Con Don a free ride.
What we should be concerned about are the deals going on inside the opaque Oval Office. The White House staff is making sure that Donald (and Jared) can conduct all meetings and phone calls without a trace. We know just a bit about Jared's schemes so far in that they were not 100% successful. But he's still trying! And what of our Grifter-In-Chief? Will we ever know how much money the Saudis or the Emirates are pushing his way?
The situation is disgusting and will not stop until Trump leaves office.
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More worrisome is the Kushner connection. I can't believe that the White House Ethics office is giving his meetings and the resultant 'loans' to the almost bankrupt Kushner Company a pass.
2
Does this mean that the plaintiffs will be able to see Trump's personal and corporate tax returns? Lord, I hope so. That is how we will take him down.
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There is little doubt that the Trump hotel in Washington receives guests and patronage from those attempting to curry favorable treatment by the president.However many will not use this hotel and other Trump properties be cause of political contempt for Trump. This a whole lot of fuss about not very much.
4
Or nothing, I bet the president does not even know who stays there or who does not unless this idiotic paper publishes it.
It's the principle of it as much as anything. If Trump gets away with this, it makes it more likely that future presidents will try to do the same thing.
What is your point except that the suit has merit?
1
The wheels of justice grind slowly but they grind exceedingly fine.
32
Remember when the Republicans made Jimmy Carter sell his peanut farm so there would be no potential for any improprieties. I don't know if what Trump is doing is a violation of the emoluments clause but it certainly smells bad. It also smells bad that Ivanka promotes her book and her clothes and her jewlery while serving in the WH, it also smells bad that Kushner meets with chair of Citibank and then, ta-da, his family gets a huge loan. The reason for divesting and blind trusts is so the public doesn't have to worry about who the President and his administration are serving. They are supposed to be serving us, but it appears that they are serving themselves.
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Nobody sold that farm, seems he still lives there.
"it appears that they are serving themselves."
That's because they are.
2
What's with the 'appears' to be serving themselves? I'm pretty sure that serving themselves is the biggest reason the whole family is running around in the White House right now.
2
hallelujah, it's about time that one judge is allowing this case to advance, although Trump has certainly moved to stack the courts that were kept open to prevent President Obama from performing his role in nominating judges. Trump has clearly profited from being in office. What about all the foreign diplomats who stay at his hotel, all of the Secret Service details, anybody wants to gain favor with the president knows that they can either drop in at Mira Lago or visit him at his hotel in Washington DC. It's time that we taxpayers stop paying for him to be enriched, since what does he need that money for? he's too cheap to pay anyone, he and his family take complete advantage of using taxpayer funds, it's been quite a windfall for them. you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, this is like The Beverly Hillbillies in Washington DC
48
What I've always thought about the emoluments clause is that it's there to protect everyone in the United States from the harm to the country and democracy and the Constitutiion itself by having a corrupt person as President. A person who continues to pursue his own business interests while President is dangerous to all of us. Maybe there are no 'money damages' that we the people can win by a lawsuit, but there are equitable remedies that would stop the harm: forcing such a corrupt president to put all assets of his own, his family, his business partners, etc. in a blind trust - as previous people who were men of honor have naturally done on becoming president. Other equitable remedies could be fashioned. The Bar seems to have been overly timid and cautious on this point since the election. But there is still time to do the right thing, I hope.
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Add to the investigation payments to Trump properties for government travel, trump golf courses, Maro Lago, etc.
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The problem is finding a plaintiff with standing for those things.
Now that the frying pan is in the fire, I wonder if I would be turned away from the Trump Hotel if I asked for the "government rate?" I suppose one has to know someone who knows someone to even to be able to get a room there.
21
Be careful what you ask for. If you get the foreign-government rate, you might need a foreign-goverment expense account to pay the tab.
1
Uh, I think you need to ask for the 'foreign' government rate to get the best bang for your buck!
4
"The decision could allow the plaintiffs to scrutinize the Trump Organization’s financial records for payments from foreign entities and others possibly seeking to influence the White House".
Am I dreaming, or could this be real?
107
Dreaming of course!!!
1
Didn't the Trump Organization recently pledge that it was handing over all net profits derived from foreign government functions which had taken place at the much in demand D.C. hotel since the Inauguration? "Cross its heart, and hope to die!" And the T.O. also has a luxury townhouse it wants to sell you in Mongolia.
20
The statement by the Trump Organization that it would turn over net hotel profits from foreign government functions could be meaningless I would think there are ways to make most revenue go to expenses (for example, someone's exorbitant salary) rather than profit, thus minimizing profit.
5
Probably in the same spirit as the Trump Foundation handing over money it received for charity. Of course, that's only after a whole lot of publicity about how they just keep the money for themselves.
2
Yes, in fact he said that he was giving it to the government. Which for a billionaire, he's taking the poultry 250,000 a year the POTUS makes. He's not giving cash up for nothing.
Congratulations to Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, who put his heart and soul into this case.
225
What about Mar-a-Lago? Members are seeing a sizable influx of Chinese applicants and new members.
150
If Florida files suit but that is unlikely with that Republican state.
Excellent news! It's not about Trump, really. It's about the business of America being ... making money, above all. Not good for society. Not good, period!
10
Oh yes it is! if the pResident of the United States can flaunt the rules, regulations, and expectations of the citizens, then where are we as a society that supposedly believes in the rule of law and the Constitution?
1
Does #45 know what it means to walk a straight line?
Show us his Tax Returns, ASAP!!
75
Why is the Justice Department defending the Prez with personal legal issues?
244
That is a very good question, and I would guess it is because Jeff Sessions has abdicated his role as a defender of the people in return for his job. I mean, how many times as the world speculated on his tenure as Attorney General?
3
Ditto for the feckless Republicans. The RNC has been going out of their way to host Republican gatherings at Trump hotels at a cost of about $130K per event.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/rnc-holding-its-spring-meeting-a...
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/23/rnc-paid-trump-campaign-trump-tower-rent...
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/6/28/15888944/rnc-trump-hot...
2
Follow the Money. All the way to Russia.
172
Sigh of relief.....,want so much to have faith that the rule of law & leaders of integrity will prevail over a self-promoting, lying, miscreant.
69
How long will it take for Trump to start tweeting about this judge? He's gotten so bad at messaging, one might say he's all thumbs. Why is the DOJ fighting this for him? That's not their job and they should be enjoined fro this matter. I guess all the other top lawyers on his team are busy defending against the other actions pending against him. With Cohen likely to face disbarment and charges of his own, who's left? Kasowitz? Schwartz? Sekulow? Joe Pesci hasn't argued a case in a while, maybe he'd take it on? I doubt Saul Goodman would touch it with a ten foot pole.
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It's unlikely that Cousin Vinny would take the case. He prefers to defend the innocent.
14
At some point the handcuffs will be applied and traitor45 marched out of the oval office by US marshals. The illegal activity must be made to stop.
274
Well, yes, BUT that will require republicans to switch their allegiance from the criminal in the white house back to the people of the United States of America and its constitution. Do NOT hold your breathe. They are happy happy happy to ride the Trump train. We must assume they are profiting, either financially or politically or both, of this scam. They and he are currently getting away with it. And there is no clear, durable, guaranteed, enforceable power that can delivery us from this evil, sadly. This is a crisis.
45
I cannot wait. He has ruined our country!!!
13
Axios Headline today: (AMZN) dropped 5% on Wednesday morning, after a new report that President Trump may go after the tech behemoth. According to multiple sources, “Trump hates Amazon.” In fact, one source proclaimed that, “he’s obsessed with Amazon – obsessed.” Notably, CEO Jeff Bezos also owns the Washington Post, which has engaged in investigative reporting on controversies surrounding Trump. “Trump tells people Amazon has gotten a free ride from taxpayers, “ Another Trumpism… Should read: “Trump tells people Trump and Trump Properties have gotten a free ride from taxpayers, “
167
Don’t worry about Amazon. Bezos has more money, better lawyers and a studio that can produce some scathing anti Trump documentaries. Trump will get squashed like a bug.
41
With regard to Amazon, why can't our President be pursued in court for stock manipulation?
18
Oh for goodness sakes. You can search "Ivanka" on Amazon and you get over 2,000 results. They've got all the angles covered.
7