DEMS/EMOLUMENTS/LAWSUIT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP BUSINESS: “Democratic lawmakers scored another victory Tuesday [4-30-19] in their lawsuit accusing President Donald Trump of violating the Constitution by doing business with foreign governments. U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan rejected the Justice Department’s argument that the term ‘emolument’ in the Constitution should be read narrowly to apply to payments that amounted to bribes for official presidential actions. The decision to allow the suit to continue opens the door to possible efforts by the House members and senators to use the case to pry free information about Trump’s business dealings and how the Trump Organization implemented a self-imposed agreement to limit foreign business at Trump’s luxury hotel in Washington and elsewhere. However, the Justice Department and Trump’s attorneys seem certain to fight that effort. When a similar stage neared in a parallel lawsuit filed by the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland, Trump’s lawyers went to a federal appeals court and successfully got the so-called discovery process put on hold. Asked about the ruling, Justice Department spokeswoman Kelly Laco said government lawyers will keep up the fight against the lawsuit.”
–Josh Gerstein, “Congressional Democrats notch win in emoluments suit against Trump,” Politico, April 30, 2019 12:13 am