The following article by Ann E. Marimow, Jonathan O’Connell and David Fahrenthold was posted on the Washington Post website July 25, 2018:
D.C. and Maryland are suing President Trump for violating a little-known constitutional provision called “the emoluments clause.” (Video: Jenny Starrs/Photo: Matt McClain/The Washington Post)
A federal judge on Wednesday rejected President Trump’s latest effort to stop a lawsuit that alleges Trump is violating the Constitution by continuing to do business with foreign governments.
The ruling, from U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte in Greenbelt, Md., will allow the plaintiffs — the attorneys general of Maryland and the District of Columbia — to proceed with their case, which says Trump has violated little-used anti-corruption clauses in the Constitution known as emoluments clauses.
This ruling appeared to mark the first time a federal judge had interpreted those constitutional provisions and applied their restrictions to a sitting president.