Democrats get judge's agreement to argue Trump violated constitution because of "gifts" from foreign governments

A group of nearly 200 Democratic lawmakers is legally entitled to sue President Trump for allegedly violating the US Constitution's emoluments provision prohibiting the acceptance of gifts from foreign interests and national, said Friday a federal judge.

The decision of US District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan does not recognize Trump's guilt for violating the Constitution, but allows Democrats to pursue their case in court where they would be forced to do so.

The case of President Trump is led by Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, which has nearly 200 Democrats in Congress, claiming that the President continues to earn revenue from its hotel business and other properties, in violation of the Constitution .

They claim that Trump has received favors from foreign governments, such as the Chinese government brands, for his companies and renting rooms at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, which only further enrich Trump.

"This is a dazzling victory that allows us to hold the president accountable for violating the main ban on corruption in the US Constitution," said Blumenthal after the ruling. "President Trump has repeatedly violated him with impunity and now we, as members, have to hold him accountable."

"This is a dazzling victory that allows us to hold the president accountable for violating the main ban on corruption in the US Constitution."

– US Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Trump's lawyers said the Democrats could not sue because they had not been hurt personally by the president, but by their congressional colleagues. Legislators have argued that since the White House did not seek congressional permission to accept gifts from domestic and foreign interests, they suffered harm.

Although Friday's decision disregards the Justice Department's request to dismiss the case, it is the second time that a Federal Court judge decides to engage such unprecedented constitutional proceedings against the president. In July, a federal judge in Maryland said that a similar lawsuit against the president could be started, but only for the Trump Hotel in Washington, DC.

Associated Press contributed to this report.