ICYMI: Kaptur joins lawsuit challenging President Trump’s violation of Constitution’s anti-corruption clause

Washington, D.C. – This week, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and 200 Members of Congress filed a federal lawsuit against President Trump for violating one of the Constitution's critical anti-corruption provisions: the Foreign Emoluments Clause. The emoluments clause prohibits the President from accepting foreign payments without seeking and receiving Congressional authorization.

During the first weeks of the 115^th Congress Kaptur filed a House Resolution that explicitly denies President Trump consent of acceptance of any and all payments, benefits and gifts. The Resolution would make clear the position of Congress in regards to a President's ability to accept emoluments. You can read more about Kaptur's legislation in her op-ed in The Hill here.

"I swore an oath to protect the Constitution, which in this regard is plain as day; no President is exempt from the Constitution. This isn't some obscure provision buried in our laws, this was put there by the Founding Fathers in order to prevent corrupting influence by foreign governments, individuals or businesses," said Kaptur. "President Trump has a constitutional responsibility to go to Congress regarding any type of benefit he receives from a foreign entity, which he is currently receiving daily due to his sprawling global financial interests. He has refused to do so and that is why I have joined this lawsuit."

Background:

From the beginning of his Administration, President Trump's embrace of Russia, pandering to Saudi Arabia, and sudden weakness before China have raised urgent questions about his financial conflicts of interest. Since the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia last week, public reporting has revealed that President Trump has received additional foreign benefits – including new trademarks in China – and is brokering business deals in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf while regional tensions escalate.

The Emoluments Clause provides that "no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."

What is the Emolument's clause and how does it apply to Trump? For more, read a report from the Brookings Institution authored by former Republican and Democratic ethics advisors.