Trump Doesn’t Think Emoluments Clause Is Phony, U.S. Tells Court
- Lawsuit on appeal claims Trump illegally profits from office
- A judge had asked about the president’s comment from October
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Though President Donald Trump called the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clauses “phony” in October, a Justice Department lawyer tried to reassure a federal appeals court that the president doesn’t really believe that.
“No one is denying the clauses exist or that they’re important,” department lawyer Hashim Mooppan said Thursday at arguments before a 15-judge appellate panel in Richmond, Virginia, that is considering one of three lawsuits accusing Trump of flouting the constitution’s prohibition on presidents receiving things of value, or emoluments, from foreign governments.