Taxpayers will pay for Donald Trump’s ‘Emoluments’ lawsuit defense
According to a New York Times story, the U.S. taxpayer will be picking up the tab for Donald Trump’s Emoluments Clause defense. Officials announced Monday that the Justice Department will defend Donald Trump from the lawsuit that was filed on Monday accusing the President of violating the Constitution’s Emoluments clause.
The New York Times quoted a spokesperson from the Justice Department as saying, “The department is reviewing the complaint and will respond as appropriate.”
The Constitution’s Emoluments clause prevents federal officeholders from accepting gifts or payments from foreign governments. And ethics and good government advocates are contending that merely by accepting payments at his hotels or golf courses that Donald Trump is violating the Emolument’s clause.
The New York Times piece went on to say, “The lawsuit, filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a liberal government corruption watchdog, contends that the clause bars such transactions, too, and that donating profits does not solve the problem. It wants the judge to stop Mr. Trump’s businesses from accepting such payments.”
