Justice Department moving interpretation of the emoluments clause to facilitate graft.

...which is why you can't prove a financial federal election crime (like collusion) because you have a federal law (Citizens United) saying that money is free to go anywhere and do anything it wants...

...the Donald's tax returns, whether the House secures them or not...would go a long way toward highlighting this...

...but the law is the law.

...if Vladimir Putin has the Donald in his pocket...
...well, the American public put the sticker price on him...

 

Donald Trump is a legit businessman. He owns a legit upscale D.C. hotel. Using the emoluments clause to investigate foreign dignitaries staying at his hotel is a stretch in as much as they aren't bribes on the surface.


The clause specifically says "gifts"

 

Not surprised the trump defense team is defending possible emoluments violations.

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/IF11086.pdf

The three lawsuits:

• In Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) v. Trump, No. 17-CV-458 (S.D.N.Y.), a nonprofit government ethics watchdog, along with various organizations and individuals associated with the food services or hospitality industries in New York and Washington, DC, alleges violations of the Domestic and Foreign Emoluments Clauses through President Trump’s receipt of payments from the federal government and various foreign government officials at different Trump Organization properties.
• In District of Columbia v. Trump, No. 17-1596 (D. Md.), the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland sued President Trump, alleging violations of the Foreign and Domestic Emoluments Clauses similar to those in the CREW lawsuit.
• In Blumenthal, et al. v. Trump, No. 17-1154 (D.D.C.), 201 Members of Congress have alleged violations of the Foreign Emoluments Clause through the President’s receipt of foreign-government payments at Trump properties, foreign licensing fees, and regulatory benefits, among other things.

 

Trump didnt spend millions in campaign dollars to have a few dignitaries stay at his hotels.

Dignitaries choosing to stay at his hotels is totally understandable. They are luxury hotels

 

Just like collusion this will only rally his base. What they see is a businessman who employees people being punished for owning businesses and not being a career politician.

Regardless its just hotel stays

 

trump spent $66M on his campaign. His DC hotel alone supposedly made $40M during his first year as president.

The concern about emoluments is that he is steering foreign dignitaries towards his hotels with the possibility of a quid pro quo.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/do...pend-big-trump-properties-curry-favor-n837851
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/03/sau...-at-trumps-new-york-hotel-reversing-drop.html
http://time.com/donald-trumps-suite-of-power/

Heck, even businesses, For example:




In addition, there is concern that many government functions are being steered to his hotels:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/10/politics/defense-department-300000-at-trump-properties/index.html

 

No it does not specifically says "gifts".

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

The intent of the founder was also clear.

https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/gs_121616_emoluments-clause1.pdf

 

His hotel made $40 million in total. Not just from dignitaries.

To fully examine the hotel we need historical numbers. Also just in general its still a stretch to say Trump is requiring people to stay there

 

So you are saying the President is open to bribes and that's ok.