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WASHINGTON – The State of Maryland and the District of Columbia began issuing subpoenas to appear Tuesday regarding documents related to President Trump's hotel in Washington, looking for evidence of clashes. Interests contrary to the provision of the Constitution relating to the fight against corruption.
a wide range of documents, including tax documents related to the activities of the president, are likely to rage against a trial by the administration. The Department of Justice should challenge decisions made by a federal judge who allowed the litigation to proceed and the case seems tied to the Supreme Court.
The Governments of Maryland and the District of Columbia claim that Mr. Trump violates the Constitution's emoluments provisions by accepting payments from foreign officials or government officials who frequent the Trump International Hotel, located on Pennsylvania Avenue, a few blocks from the White House. They are seeking documents from a dozen entities related to Mr. Trump's affairs, including the trust in which he had placed assets when he became chairman, as well as many others. entities.
But before the production of any document, the Department of Justice should appeal to a federal court of appeal and, if necessary, to the Supreme Court, to intervene in the case. Justice Department lawyers argue that US District Court Judge Peter J. Messitte in Greenbelt, Maryland, misinterpreted the meaning of the emolument clauses, interpreting the bribery prohibitions in the United States. 39, a way far too broad.
Brian E. Frosh, a Maryland General Counsel, stated that he expected the Department of Justice to request an urgent reconsideration of Justice Messitte 's decisions. here a few days. "They did everything they could to avoid that and I think they will continue to do everything they can to avoid producing these documents," he said. he declares.
The Department of Justice declined to comment.
million. . Frosh said the plaintiffs sought to obtain documents from the president's trust because "ultimately, we must prove the existence of a link between a payment made to the Trump hotel and a payment paid to Donald Trump.
In addition to Mr. Trump's own activities, plaintiffs' lawyers have indicated that the subpoenas concern several federal agencies and the State of Maine, whose officials have placed the hotel under his patronage; the Treasury Department, because Mr. Trump is committed to returning the profits of his foreign governments to the federal government; General Services Administration, because he rented the property to Mr. Trump's company; and 18 hotels, convention centers and other businesses competing with Mr. Trump's property for business.
The sons of Trump, Eric and Donald Jr. have been running his business since being appointed president. But the plaintiffs are trying to show that representatives of states and federal and foreign governments are going to the hotel in order to win the favor of the president.
The embassies of Kuwait, Bahrain and the Philippines organized demonstrations in this place. In addition, "a large delegation from the Malaysian government has used the hotel and Saudi Arabia has spent at least $ 270,000 through its agents," said Norman L. Eisen, president from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and co-counsel to the President. complainants.
"Violations by the President of the emoluments clause are flagrant and permanent," he said.
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