Thursday, December 6, 2018

The line has been crossed

The attorneys general for Maryland and the District of Columbia issued subpoenas for financial records and other documents from as many as 13 of President Trump’s private entities Tuesday as part of an ongoing lawsuit alleging that his business violates the Constitution’s ban on gifts or payments from foreign governments.

The subpoenas seek details on some of the most closely held secrets of Trump’s presidency: Which foreign governments have paid the Trump Organization money? How much? And for what?

All of the documents — among them marketing materials targeted to foreign embassies, credit card receipts and restaurant reservation logs — relate to Trump’s D.C. hotel, which is at the center of the case because of events foreign governments have held there and the federal lease that allows the business to operate.

[...]

Trump has argued that he is not in violation, saying that the Constitution intended to ban bribes, not regular business transactions. The Trump Organization also donates profits from foreign governments to the U.S. Treasury.

[...]

“On February 22, 2018, The Trump Organization voluntarily donated to the US Treasury all profits identified as being from foreign government patronage at our hotels and similar businesses. We intend to make a similar contribution in 2019,” the statement said.

  WaPo
No doubt they have narrowly defined what amounts to "foreign government patronage."
Since Trump won the 2016 election, his hotel in Washington has hosted events put on by the embassies of Kuwait, Bahrain and the Philippines — all U.S. allies. The Saudi government spent at least $270,000 to reserve hotel rooms and banquet rooms at the D.C. hotel, according to foreign-lobbying records.

Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump White House has provided any comprehensive accounting of which foreign governments have paid money to the president’s businesses — and, by extension, to the president, who still owns them. Nor have they said what these countries paid for, which might address concerns that they might be overpaying for services to curry favor with Trump.

[...]

Attorneys for Trump have also signaled that they plan to try to block the subpoenas by continuing to fight in court.
No doubt. And will go to the Supreme Court if they have to. It's good for them they've packed the courts.

I don't suppose there's any law against him raking in the millions of taxpayer dollars going to his resorts and golf clubs every time he goes to one.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

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