U.S. Ethics Lawsuits Against Trump Part of Groups’ Political Strategy
Legal advocacy groups seeking to challenge President Donald Trump in court over alleged conflicts of interest said filing lawsuits is part of a larger strategy to highlight their concerns and put political pressure on the White House, according to a Reuters report.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington contended payments to Trump’s businesses for hotel rooms and office leases run afoul of the emoluments clause of the Constitution, report The clause forbids U.S. officeholders from accepting various gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval.
“The American Civil Liberties Union is also preparing a lawsuit over Trump’s alleged violations of the emoluments clause, said ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero,” the reporters write. “Beyond winning favorable rulings, cases can serve to ‘gum up the machinery of the government and rob the Trump administration of momentum,’ he said.”
