U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut says it’s a profound victory that a federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled that 200 Democratic members of Congress have legal standing to sue President Donald Trump. The ruling allows the Democrats to pursue their claim that President Trump violated the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Blumenthal says the ruling in the case called Blumenthal v. Trump means Democratic lawmakers can go after the President’s tax records as they attempt to show that Trump has violated the emoluments clause.
“Blumenthal versus Trump could result in the disclosure of tax returns, financial records. We have overcome a major obstacle because standing is probably the most difficult legal issue. And now on the merits, we will file briefs, there will be a hearing as to legally whether these payments constitute emoluments within the meaning of the Constitution.”
The emoluments clause of the Constitution prohibits U.S. government officials from accepting benefits from foreign governments unless a majority of both Houses of Congress consent.
The ruling is the second time a federal court judge has decided to advance such a lawsuit against the President.
In July a federal judge in Maryland ruled that a similar lawsuit against Trump filed by the attorneys general for Maryland and the District of Columbia could proceed, but only as it pertained to earnings from the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.
