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In a frustrating blow to Congressional Democrats, a federal appeals court has thrown out the emoluments case against President Donald Trump.
The case had sought to pry Trump’s financial records away from him, claiming that he was violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution by not disclosing his tax returns.
The emoluments clause essentially states that the president can’t use their office to personally enrich themselves by receiving funds from foreign powers or through laws they have passed.
The federal appeals court tossing this case is another major victory for Trump. It follows his acquittal by the Senate in his impeachment trial.
Congressional Democrats have fought bitterly to get Trump to unseal his business dealings and tax returns.
Trump, breaking from norms, is the first modern president to not disclose his tax returns. That means his finances are a mystery. Democrats worry that he is using the office of the president to personally enrich himself and his allies.
However, the appeals court dismissed the case, which could dramatically change the way that future presidential candidates will treat the emoluments clause.
Further, this was not the only emoluments case against Trump.
A panel of three federal judges issued the dismissal of the case, and wrote in their opinion that the plaintiffs’ “claim is based entirely on the loss of political power.”
The court went on, stating, “Our conclusion is straightforward because the Members — 29 Senators and 186 Members of the House of Representatives — do not constitute a majority of either body and are, therefore, powerless to approve or deny the President’s acceptance of foreign emoluments.”
The case was originally filed in 2017, before Democrats overwhelmingly won back the House of Representatives.
At least two other court cases dealing with Trump’s finances are still moving through the court system. These cases focus on Trump’s ownership of various properties, such as the Mar-a-Lago resort and various hotels. Visiting diplomats from other countries have stayed at these properties.
These suits argue that Trump is using his office as president to encourage foreign leaders to stay at his hotels, and is thereby personally enriching himself through his office.
