In total, 30 Senators and 166 members of the House of Representatives have together filed the lawsuit; perhaps a first ever of such magnitude against a US president.
Indian American lawmakers Sen. Kamala Harris, and Reps. Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, and Tulsi Gabbard have accused Donald Trump of violating constitutional provisions and profiting from foreign governments. On June 14, the Democrats approached the federal court to demand thorough investigations on Trump’s business interests, while he is holding the government’s top office.
The complaint said that several foreign governments are giving benefits to Trump organizations, for instance, Trump Hotels and Trump Tower; and that not every emolument is in public domain. It said that he should reveal the benefits he has received from the foreign States.
On Tuesday, Jayapal tweeted a copy of the part of the constitution that makes it mandatory for the president to take Congress’s consent before accepting emoluments from foreign governments. “This part of the Constitution right here? The president is flagrantly violating it. We’re suing him,” pointing to the paragraph that read, “No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.”
This part of the Constitution right here? The president is flagrantly violating it. We're suing him. https://t.co/h2UuRiEi3x #TrumpForSale pic.twitter.com/m6XbOwRbzU
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) June 20, 2017
The Silicon Valley representative, Ro Khanna, tweeted on Tuesday, “I am one of the 194 members of Congress who are suing @realDonaldTrump for his failure to comply with the Foreign Emoluments Clause.” Khanna also shared a web link in support of his argument.
2 – Read more about why he needs to consult with Congress before accepting payments from foreign states https://t.co/7pWzXsjDlC
— Rep. Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna) June 20, 2017
Gabbard, who has been representing Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district since 2013, tweeted, “I joined colleagues in a lawsuit to enforce the Emoluments Clause The President’s foreign policy must be in best interest of American ppl.”
I joined colleagues in a lawsuit to enforce the Emoluments Clause. The President's foreign policy must be in best interest of American ppl.
— Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiPress) June 20, 2017
Noticeably, no one from the Republican side has signed the suit.
While the plaintiffs have argued that the president has blatantly violated the Foreign Emoluments Clause, Trump’s supporters assert that he has already handed over his businesses to his two adult sons, and what else could he do to prove his integrity.
The copy of the suit can be accessed here.