An appeals court sparred over whether Trump is illegally profiting from his presidency
Judges on the fourth US circuit court of appeals debated a major case alleging Trump has violated the emoluments clause of the constitution by accepting profits from 🍊International Hotel in Washington DC where foreign and domestic officials and lobbyist often choose to stay
The debate was heated, CNN reports:
At times, judges took over from the arguing attorneys, the Justice Department, Trump’s personal legal team and the DC and Maryland state attorneys general offices to argue for or against the President themselves. “We are winging it.
At times, judges took over from the arguing attorneys, the Justice Department, Trump’s personal legal team and the DC and Maryland state attorneys general offices to argue for or against the President themselves. “We are winging it.
If this isn’t off the rails, then I don’t know what is,” said Judge Harvie Wilkinson III, a Reagan appointee who’s been on the federal appellate bench at least a half decade longer than any other judge in the wood-paneled room Thursday.
“There are, there are other suits involving congressional subpoenas and everything that presents closer questions, but this one’s a lemon,” he added. “It’s the weakest of the cases that are springing up like jimsonweed against the presidency in this environment.”
Maryland and DC, which argued that hotels in their jurisdictions suffer because those hoping to win Trump’s favor are more likely to stay at the president’s hotel.
A three-judge panel of Trump🍊😱 appointees directed a judge in Maryland to drop the lawsuit, but the attorneys are asking the appeals court to reconsider.
