D.C. and Maryland File Lawsuit Against Trump for Breaching His Constitutional Oath

“Never before has a President acted with such disregard” for the Constitution
Politics • Views: 34,958

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More trouble for our so-called president today: he’s now being sued by the District of Columbia and the state of Maryland for violating the Constitution by taking millions of dollars in payments and other benefits from foreign governments, and refusing to keep his promise to divest himself of his businesses.

The lawsuit, the first of its kind brought by government entities, centers on the fact that Trump chose to retain ownership of his company when he became president. Trump said in January that he was shifting his business assets into a trust managed by his sons to eliminate potential conflicts of interests.

But D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine (D) and Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D) say Trump has broken many promises to keep separate his public duties and private business interests. For one, his son Eric Trump has said the president would continue to receive regular updates about his company’s financial health.

The lawsuit, a signed copy of which Racine and Frosh provided to The Washington Post on Sunday night, alleges “unprecedented constitutional violations” by Trump. The suit says Trump’s continued ownership of a global business empire has rendered the president “deeply enmeshed with a legion of foreign and domestic government actors” and has undermined the integrity of the U.S. political system.

“Fundamental to a President’s fidelity to [faithfully execute his oath of office] is the Constitution’s demand that the President … disentangle his private finances from those of domestic and foreign powers. Never before has a President acted with such disregard for this constitutional prescription.”

Attorney General Racine said specifically that one important reason for this lawsuit is that the GOP-controlled Congress refuses to act on Trump’s glaring conflicts of interest, saying, “We’re getting in here to be the check and balance that it appears Congress is unwilling to be.”

Here’s the document:

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77 comments
1
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:29:35am

Time to fire Maryland and dump DC

2
Sir John Barron  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:30:53am

Checks and balances are only for Democratic presidents.

Also, too, what about Hillary emails and Clinton Foundation?

////

3
Timothy Watson  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:31:59am

re: #1 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

Time to fire Maryland and dump DC

In theory, Congress would have the power to pass a law to prohibit the D.C. attorney general from participating in a legal action like this. Congress can change D.C.’s home rule statute any time it wants.

4
Big Beautiful Door  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:32:19am

This sort of suit would normally be dismissed for lack of standing. But precedent has been made in the case brought by the Congressional GOP against President Obama for spending money on ACA subsidies not appropriated by Congress. So we’ll see what happens; at least the issue is being publicized.

5
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:33:40am

re: #4 Big Beautiful Door

This sort of suit would normally be dismissed for lack of standing. But precedent has been made in the case brought by the Congressional GOP against President Obama for spending money on ACA subsidies not appropriated by Congress. So we’ll see what happens; at least the issue is being publicized.

The GOP would have to turn on their own President. I do not see that happening, at least until after 2018, and then only if enough of them lose seats in the mid-terms.

6
Eclectic Cyborg  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:34:15am

So let’s say Trump loses this suit. What happens then?

7
Shropshire Slasher  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:34:43am

This is from February 3rd nytimes.com

While the president says he has walked away from the day-to-day operations of his business, two people close to him are the named trustees and have broad legal authority over his assets: his eldest son, Donald Jr., and Allen H. Weisselberg, the Trump Organization’s chief financial officer. Mr. Trump, who will receive reports on any profit, or loss, on his company as a whole, can revoke their authority at any time.

8
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:35:10am

re: #6 Eclectic Cyborg

So let’s say Trump loses this suit. What happens then?

He declares bankruptcy, pays pennies on the dollar and walks away from it, right?

9
lizardofid  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:37:17am

re: #8 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

He declares bankruptcy, pays pennies on the dollar and walks away from it, right?

And stiffs any and all contractors/

10
Charles Johnson  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:38:06am
11
KGxvi  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:39:31am

re: #6 Eclectic Cyborg

So let’s say Trump loses this suit. What happens then?

“The Chief Justice has issued his ruling, now let him enforce it.”

I would need to read the complaint to really weigh in on whether there’s standing or if the political question doctrine applies, but I just don’t have the energy this morning to do so. But assuming Trump loses, I can absolutely see him trying to pull a Jackson on this. One would hope, at that point, Congressional Republicans would realize that ignoring a valid judgment is a much graver sin than lying under oath in a deposition… but at this point, I hold out no hope of the GOP even pretending to do the right thing.

12
freetoken  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:40:10am

re: #6 Eclectic Cyborg

So let’s say Trump loses this suit. What happens then?

Nothing, probably. I suppose a court could order an injunction against whatever contracting procedure is in play to give one of Trump’s companies a gov’t contract (even as a sub-contractor.)

But as for Trump? Only Congress can remove or punish him.

13
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:40:58am

re: #10 Charles Johnson

Trump is inviting his Cabinet members to go around the table praising him

and then a hearty round of singing…

14
Charles Johnson  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:42:56am
15
Charles Johnson  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:43:33am
16
Sir John Barron  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:44:37am

re: #15 Charles Johnson

head/desk

17
freetoken  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:44:55am

I want to think that when the Senate GOP reveal their healthcare gutting that the backlash will build to force them to back off. Or if they pass it then the backlash at the next election will cost the Republicans dearly.

I hope.

18
freetoken  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:45:13am

re: #15 Charles Johnson

It is a crime family.

19
Sir John Barron  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:45:24am

re: #15 Charles Johnson

Did he also thank Eric and Donny, Jr? Wouldn’t be fair if he didn’t.

////

20
KGxvi  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:45:50am

re: #15 Charles Johnson

remember when they claimed Obama was acting like a king?

Family Guy- Pepperidge Farm Remembers

21
HappyWarrior  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:46:00am

This administration just isn’t normal.

22
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:46:04am

re: #14 Charles Johnson

Gianforte sentenced to 40 hours of community service for assaulting reporter

and this, in a nutshell, is why the GOP will never turn on DT. His aura of immunity from his words and actions (remember his boast about being able to shoot someone on 5th avenue and get away with it?) is starting to rub off on the rest of the party.

23
HappyWarrior  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:46:19am

re: #20 KGxvi

remember when they claimed Obama was acting like a king?

[Embedded content]

What’s obvious now is they wanted a king.

24
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:46:41am

re: #21 HappyWarrior

This administration just isn’t normal.

It was elected by people who wanted anything but normal

25
wrenchwench  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:46:45am

Trump needs some kind of implant in order to feel shame. Or maybe he needs something removed to feel it. His twitter account? Or all his money…he’d feel that.

26
lawhawk  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:48:46am

re: #18 freetoken

Syndicate.

27
HappyWarrior  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:50:01am

re: #25 wrenchwench

Trump needs some kind of implant in order to feel shame. Or maybe he needs something removed to feel it. His twitter account? Or all his money…he’d feel that.

Take away Melania and give him a normal looking wife for a man his age.

28
The Vicious Babushka  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:50:05am

re: #13 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

and then a hearty round of singing…

Nah, this==>

Russia National anthem Russian & English lyrics

29
Stanley Sea  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:50:26am

re: #14 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

30
Shiplord Kirel  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:50:29am

I’m on the ground in Lubbock. Even without the signs I would recognize it by the interminable dwell time of the red lights and by every third pickup pulling out in front of me from the side streets. The latter is a Lubbock signature behavior, as though such concepts as “right of way” and “beware cross traffic” were politically correct impositions to be defied.

31
The Vicious Babushka  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:50:57am

re: #27 HappyWarrior

Take away Melania and give him a normal looking wife for a man his age.

You mean Kellyanne Conway?

32
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:51:29am

re: #30 Shiplord Kirel

I’m on the ground in Lubbock. Even without the signs I would recognize it by the interminable dwell time of the red lights and by every third pickup pulling out in front of me from the side streets. The latter is a Lubbock signature behavior, as though such concepts as “right of way” and “beware cross traffic” were politically correct impositions to be defied.

Right of way is determined by how high the driver sits above street level

33
Le Coquí Résistance  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:53:17am

re: #10 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

WTF??

I can see this as a way to break walls between colleagues, like it was done in the debate between Trump and HRC. But coming from the boss to praise him? I would be running for the hills and not stop until the next continent.

34
HappyWarrior  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:53:24am

re: #31 The Vicious Babushka

You mean Kellyanne Conway?

Ha.

35
Hecuba's daughter  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:57:35am

re: #23 HappyWarrior

What’s obvious now is they wanted a king.

A white Christian king.

36
Big Beautiful Door  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:58:26am

re: #35 Hecuba’s daughter

A white Christian king.

A Jesus substitute. Evangelicals are taught to crave a king to bow down to every Sunday.

37
The Vicious Babushka  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:58:33am

OH SHIT

38
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jun 12, 2017 • 10:59:09am

re: #23 HappyWarrior

What’s obvious now is they wanted a king.

They wanted an authoritarian who could come in, kick ass and get things done. In defiance of all the rules of government, the laws of economics & science or the precedents of foreign policy…

39
Kragar  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:02:03am
40
HappyWarrior  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:03:05am

re: #38 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

They wanted an authoritarian who could come in, kick ass and get things done. In defiance of all the rules of government, the laws of economics & science or the precedents of foreign policy…

A king then yes.

41
TedStriker  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:04:11am
42
Stanley Sea  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:04:21am

It shouldn’t have been green lighted to begin with.

But ratings over dead children.

43
Timothy Watson  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:04:56am

re: #40 HappyWarrior

A king then yes.

Kings who tried doing that usually didn’t last that long.

44
calochortus  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:05:20am

re: #38 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

They wanted an authoritarian who could come in, kick ass and get things done. In defiance of all the rules of government, the laws of economics & science or the precedents of foreign policy…

Well, support of an authoritarian government is one of the best predictors of Trump voters, so, yes. Certainty. Security. And, they hope, a return to the social structure of the 1950s.

45
gocart mozart  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:06:06am
46
lizardofid  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:08:05am

re: #32 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

Right of way is determined by how high the driver sits above street level

And turn signals are considered a sign of weakness. They’ll be on ya like a pack of wolves!

47
I Would Prefer Not To  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:08:26am

I rarely do this but I asked NBC not to air the segment.

48
The Vicious Babushka  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:08:38am

SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT

49
The Vicious Babushka  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:09:51am

8e7TgntiEyywA0HSLeWfL8xJO1opNoFJkUTGLScQsLBmJVFW4otR4uBYK0S0VjUBiAgJb883hCfIKc7JdNhkwie3WX5sjBzvFNZF24uikOazYQPn36O8obTLLl4VLmUoqP2L28xuDgjInIkvdm7QpQ==

50
Belafon  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:10:45am

re: #45 gocart mozart

Keep it up, and you’ll lose funding from Delta.

51
Shiplord Kirel  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:15:46am

Finally confirmed where we are.

52
Skip Intro  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:16:13am

re: #6 Eclectic Cyborg

So let’s say Trump loses this suit. What happens then?

He ignores the ruling.

53
Sir John Barron  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:16:27am

re: #51 Shiplord Kirel

Finally confirmed where we are.

[Embedded content]

Do we have a paddle?

54
Barefoot Grin  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:16:42am

re: #51 Shiplord Kirel

Finally confirmed where we are.

[Embedded content]

Now, where did I put that paddle….

55
Birth Control Works  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:16:43am
56
lizardofid  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:17:26am

re: #42 Stanley Sea

It shouldn’t have been green lighted to begin with.

But ratings over dead children.

[Embedded content]

“Animal human hybrids”

The checkout line tabloids have made the networks, and Megyn Kelly brought em over.

How did Fox let this get away?

//

57
Barefoot Grin  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:17:30am

re: #53 Sir John Barron

Do we have a paddle?

Damn you!

58
Stanley Sea  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:18:16am

re: #47 I Would Prefer Not To

Done

59
ericblair  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:18:32am

re: #50 Belafon

Best comment yet

60
Shropshire Slasher  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:22:05am

re: #49 The Vicious Babushka

dp9Ham3zJM99x/UagSANsTbjwZYbbRX33bIUCL6vv52c8ZF59+ER8YZ7uC4YCLoEuxxyBeIEe/z60JGBxTOPGbfMvIe9z0R+8ECZ5KPXfB70qapFjdZXXg==

61
Kragar  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:22:13am
62
The Vicious Babushka  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:22:56am
63
Barefoot Grin  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:23:42am

Late on the draw again.

64
calochortus  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:26:52am

re: #62 The Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

So now every company can become one of those for profit technical colleges? Great plan.

65
Birth Control Works  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:26:57am

re: #53 Sir John Barron

Do we have a paddle?

I have a towel and I know where it is.

66
Big Beautiful Door  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:27:21am

re: #62 The Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

Why settle for merely getting free labor from interns, when you can make them pay for the privilege of working? BRILLIANT!!//

67
Birth Control Works  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:27:33am

re: #62 The Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

CHOICE?????

Bwhahahahahah

68
Birth Control Works  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:28:33am

re: #48 The Vicious Babushka

SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT

[Embedded content]

Hope all drivers and passengers are ok.

70
Eclectic Cyborg  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:33:10am

re: #66 Big Beautiful Door

Why settle for merely getting free labor from interns, when you can make them pay for the privilege of working? BRILLIANT!!//

“Work makes you free.”

71
Sionainn, the Nasty Devilbitch  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:33:44am

re: #49 The Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

I just read that there were no injuries and the road is open.

72
Birth Control Works  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:34:48am

re: #38 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

They wanted an authoritarian who could come in, kick ass and get things done. In defiance of all the rules of government, the laws of economics & science or the precedents of foreign policy…

I think they dream of the old roman style Tyrant - Cincinnatus.

1-That is assuming that any modern day leader is can do such a thing effectively &
2-That they will give-up power once the job is done.

There real problems trying to compare The US to Rome —size geographically and population. There is a point in which a Republic has to change into something else -or goes away.

We’ve lasted pretty long as Republic. Florence lasted pretty long-but it was just a city. .

73
Kragar  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:36:00am
74
Hecuba's daughter  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:43:15am

re: #47 I Would Prefer Not To

I rarely do this but I asked NBC not to air the segment.

[Embedded content]

Done!!

75
Barefoot Grin  Jun 12, 2017 • 11:45:00am

re: #70 Eclectic Cyborg

“Work makes you free.”

Repayable in easy monthly installments….

76
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jun 12, 2017 • 12:20:42pm

re: #55 Birth Control Works

Vincente Fox put another out yesterday

How could a guy with such a great name be such a pain in the ass?

77
LoonRadio  Jun 12, 2017 • 9:28:28pm

In Virginia, if I see someone using a turn signal, I just presume it was on when they bought the car and didn’t know how to turn it off.


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