Appeals court to hear arguments in hotel lawsuit
By The Associated Press
March 16, 2019 9:15 am
... The attorneys general of Maryland and Washington say government spending at Trumps Washington hotel falls under a broad definition of emoluments: any profit, gain, or advantage ...
Judge Peter Messitte ruled in July that the attorneys general had made convincing arguments that the constitutional meaning of emoluments encompasses any profit, gain, or advantage. It was the first time a federal judge had interpreted the emoluments clause.
The 4th Circuit agreed to hear the unusual mid-case appeal. Trumps lawyers are asking the court to overturn Messittes ruling that the attorney generals have standing to sue Trump.
Trump argues that as president, he has absolute immunity from the lawsuit. But Maryland and the District say that Trumps alleged misconduct is unrelated to the functions of his office, so absolute immunity does not apply ...
https://wtop.com/national/2019/03/appeals-court-to-hear-arguments-in-trump-hotel-lawsuit/