Sunday, June 11, 2017

Justice Department uses poor George Washington to justify allowing Trump to continue taking money from foreign governments while in the White House.

Courtesy of Bloomberg: 

George Washington did it, so Donald Trump can, too. 

That’s the Justice Department’s take on why the 45th president isn’t violating the U.S. Constitution by accepting payments for goods and services from foreign governments without congressional approval. 

The foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution doesn’t apply to fair-market commercial transactions, such as hotel bills, golf club fees, licensing payments and office rent, the Justice department argued Friday in a filing. The government is asking a judge to throw out a lawsuit brought by a watchdog group that claims Trump’s business dealings violate the Constitution. 

If accepted by the court, the argument would eliminate a major legal obstacle for Trump’s businesses to keep money from foreign officials and companies owned by foreign governments. 

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, sued Trump within days of his inauguration in January, claiming foreign officials are doing business with Trump properties as a way to curry favor with the president. The group is seeking an order from U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams in Manhattan that Trump is violating the foreign emoluments clause and the domestic emoluments clause, which specifically bars presidents from taking payments from federal or state officials.

The argument essentially states that since Washington's Mt. Vernon plantation sold flour and cornmeal to various foreign lands while he served as President, that it is the same as allowing the Trump organization to engage in huge real estate deals with foreign countries that could be worth millions of dollars, and may also serve as a way to influence Trump's policies toward those countries.

In their desperation they also cited the fact that some of President Obama's books were sold overseas so the royalties he received from those sales would also violate the emoluments clause, a rationalization so pathetic that it does not simply strain credulity, it takes it out back and stomps on its neck.

Donald Trump clearly does not see the presidency as an opportunity to serve his country, but rather sees it as the greatest advertisement opportunity of his life, with which he can dramatically increase his wealth.

And apparently the now ironically named Justice Department is working to help him do that. 

29 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:45 AM

    It was ALWAYS about increasing his wealth and that of his spawn, NEVER about serving his country and its citizens. Let alone ADMIRABLY.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1:52 PM

      https://www.democraticunderground.com/12512404378


      In 2000 Donald Trump told Fortune magazine, “It’s very possible that I could be the first presidential candidate to run and make money on it.”
      “I didn’t need to do this folks. I’m spending a lot of money,” Trump said during a rally in Ohio. Donald Trump has contributed more than $52 million to his presidential campaign."

      http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/how-donald-trump-is-making-money-off-his-presidential-bid/ar-AAiDEOg?li=BBnb7Kz

      Delete
  2. Anonymous12:11 PM

    Just when you think justice & fair dealings & ethics cannot be more screwed, this.

    Appalling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Notice it was in the FRIDAY DUMP.

      They were hoping to sneak this by the public.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous12:12 PM

    mc$hame on U$a.
    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/06/11/john-mccain-admits-american-leadership-obama-trump.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous12:16 PM

    LIKE> Rat$ jumping off Pirate $hip$
    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/06/11/trumps-white-house-abandons-administration-sunday-shows.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous12:18 PM

    Je$U$ FUCking Chri$'T'

    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/white-house-confirms-jerry-falwell-jr-will-participate-in-task-force-on-education-reform/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:54 PM

      At least once a day, I wonder why it is that the GOP despises the American people so much. They keep proving their hatred of the very country that supports them all so well!
      Beaglemom

      Delete
  6. Camel's nose.

    You just watch.

    Next he'll be keeping all the SWAG he's being gifted with.

    He'll keep that yacht and gold medal and those watches from the Saudis and that golf club from the Japanese.

    In fact, he'll be hinting to governments that they will gain favor if they give him really expensive presents.

    And he'll keep them all.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous12:19 PM

    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/geologist-believes-grand-canyon-was-caused-by-noahs-flood-so-hes-suing-the-park-service-to-prove-it/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous12:21 PM

    Absolutely disgusting !! Hope the Judge tells little donnie to go to hell.

    Also highlights that the Justice Dept is now corrupt!!!

    They let him get away with not putting his businesses in a blind trust; they allow him to profit by using his own properties and charging the secret service. Enough is enough.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:36 PM

      Ironically named Justice Department now takes its rightful place alongside the equally ironically named Senate and House "Intelligence" Committees.

      Delete
    2. Well, this won't be left to the Justice Department to decide.

      There will be lawsuits and it will eventually get to the Supreme Court.

      Then comes the test. Have the GOP bought the Surpreme court? It won't be Gorsucks that decides this.

      I think John Roberts for one will side with the liberals and the DOJ ruling (if they support Trump) will be struck down.

      If the ruling is 8-1 with Gorsucks the only dissent, then you'll know that Donnie bought himself a justice.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous1:14 PM

      Republicans - Trump, Ryan, Pence, etc. suck bigger than The Devil!

      I see Trump as the Devil incarnate currently occupying the 'throne' ruling as a Dictator! He is NOT offering 'democracy' to the American people. Others around the world see his true nature and it's sad America does not!

      Fuck him and his! He needs to be IMPEACHED due to having committed treason. Our government officials in the U. S. Congress need to stop backing him and his dastardly deeds and rule accordingly against him.

      IMPEACH, IMPEACH, IMPEACH!

      Delete
  9. Anonymous12:28 PM

    Duggarized!

    Josh Duggar Wants in on Sisters' Lawsuit Against Cops, City
    Josh Duggar Police Hurt Me Too with Release Of Molestation Reports
    6/5/2017 1:30 PM PDT

    Josh Duggar now wants his own pound of flesh from the police and city officials 4 of his sisters are suing for releasing investigators' reports on his molestation case.

    Duggar filed documents to join the lawsuit Jill, Jessa, Jinger and Joy filed last month. In his docs, Josh says cops assured him his 2006 interview discussing the molestation of his sisters would remain private. He says since he wasn't charged, the information wouldn't have gone public ... if the reports weren't released to In Touch magazine.

    http://www.tmz.com/2017/06/05/josh-duggar-adds-to-sisters-lawsuit/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1:45 PM

      As my husband always says, "if you don't want people to know, don't do it."

      They must not have forked over as much $$ as the Palins did keeping their tribe of delinquents publicity free.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous2:04 PM

      Earth to Dunce Duggar -- I watch news all the time and people not charged are still mentioned. Get over yourself, pretty boy molester.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous3:03 PM

      Who the feck raised this Josh turd? Talk about a ...never mind...I'm having a Duggar family flashback!

      http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/03/duggar_family_campaigns_for_ri.html

      " Jim Bob Duggar, star of television network TLC's "The Duggar Family," a show about a family with 19 children, brought a bus full of those children to Huntsville Monday to campaign for Rick Santorum." As president, he will lead in the conservative cause," Duggar told a press conference outside the west Huntsville Walmart on University Drive.

      "Don't give up today," son Josh Duggar told the crowd of about 30 people, referring to polls showing Santorum trailing both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich in Alabama and Mississippi."

      Banjos, Rick Santorum, Duggars, MITT AND NEWT and JEEBUS... fuck yea!!!

      Delete
  10. Anonymous1:16 PM

    HA HA I love it: “loose association with the truth” !!

    My mother always called it “a stranger to the truth”, classier than plan old liar.
    =================================

    Biographer who caught Trump lying 30 times: He tried to ‘intimidate’ me by lying about taping conversations

    .....“His loose association with the truth becomes problematic when he’s confronted with documents,” O’Brien explained to CNN host Brian Stelter on Sunday. “We’ve had decades now of Trump frequently lying or exaggerating about a wide range of things.”.....

    ......The the author also threw cold water on Trump’s suggestion that he may have “tapes” of his conversation with former FBI Director James Comey.

    “He’s said this over the years to reporters when they go into the Trump organization, ‘I just want to let you know that I’m taping you right now,'” O’Brien noted. “And he said it multiple times during my interviews with him. He said that into my own tape recorder when I recorded our interviews.”

    “But when he sat down for the deposition, my attorney said, ‘Mr. Trump, do you have a taping system?'” he recalled. “And he said no. And [my attorney] said, ‘Why did you say this to Mr. O’Brien.’ And he essentially said, ‘I wanted to intimidate him.'”

    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/biographer-who-caught-trump-lying-30-times-he-tried-to-intimidate-me-by-lying-about-taping-conversations/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Melanoma filed a lawsuit saying an article about he once being an escort damaged her "once in a lifetime chance" to grift multi millions as 1st Lady.

    The whole family is grift-greedy. To them the WH is just a tool to make grifting easier and way more profitable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:19 PM

      Hey mike! Leave Brittney, I mean, Melanoma alone! Don't pay attention to that lawsuit. She's not gritting. She's too busy working on her anti-bullying campaign which will start any day now, after she holds the news conference to address her immigration issues that Trump promised she would hold in two weeks, nine months ago. I heard she would be working on her anti-bullying campaign with the Department of Education. What's that u say? The new DOE budget cuts funding for those programs, well, I'm sure she will pony up the money herself then.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous1:34 PM

    Do it little donnie and see what happens. I guess they skip Watergate at Trump U.

    If he is so innocent, why is he obstructing? Doesn’t he want to truth to come out so he can say I told you so :)

    No he it is because he is guilty and he won’t get off with just a fine this time.
    ==========================================================

    Trump Attorney Refuses To Rule Out Possibility Of Trump Firing Mueller

    http://crooksandliars.com/2017/06/trump-attorney-refuses-rule-out

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous1:42 PM

    Just unfollowed a man whom I thought was smart and funny, because he called Theresa May a whore. 1/14
    — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling)

    If you can’t disagree with a woman without reaching for all those filthy old insults, screw you and your politics. 2/14
    — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling)

    I don’t care whether we’re talking about Theresa May or Nicola Sturgeon or Kate Hooey or Yvette Cooper or Hillary Clinton: 11/14
    — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Can I still call Donald Judas Trump an asshole?

      Delete
  14. Anonymous2:07 PM

    tiny djt jr
    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/06/11/donald-trump-jr-foolishly-exposes-trumps-conversation-comey-video.html

    ReplyDelete
  15. And now we know why Trump is attacking Qatar (probably at the behest of the Saudis but he has his own reasons.)

    Qatar refused to grease Trump's palm.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-says-qatar-funds-terror-heres-his-record-of-trying-to-get-it-to-fund-him_us_593d6691e4b0c5a35ca06118?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

    "Donald Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner all repeatedly sought financing for various investments in recent years from leading figures in Qatar, according to sources with direct knowledge of the meetings."

    "Saudi Arabia — and I get along great with all of them. They buy apartments from me. They spend $40 million, $50 million. Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much."

    "A source close to the 2010 talks with Trump say he made the Doha stopover (along with stops in Dubai and Abu Dhabi) to raise money for a distressed real estate fund he was assembling. Trump opened the discussion with QIA by bragging about the success of Trump International and the many deals he had personally put together. Trump had hardly got through his own biography when Dr. Al-Abdullah, QIA’s senior executive, interrupted to say words to the effect of: We know who you are and what you have done. Tell us what you can do for us right now.

    That single, curt interruption apparently left Trump stunned. He had expected his hosts to be impressed, if not grateful, that a person of Trump’s stature would visit the Qatari capital. Apparently distracted by the lack of decorum, Trump barely continued with his pitch. The meeting abruptly ended, according to one account, with Trump exiting the room visibly angered. "

    "Today, with Trump allying himself and the United States with those blockading their tiny country, Qataris can’t help but wonder: is this all about Trump’s hurt feelings over business deals that didn’t pan out? "

    I think we all know the answer to that. Trump is a spoiled petulant brat that revels in revenge. Trump is allowing his own personal vendetta to drive U.S. policy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:29 AM

      Did you know G Washington had everybody refer to him as "Your Excellency" during the Continental Congress days?
      And Benedict Arnold turned, because slave-ownin' GW wouldn't repay the 10thou$$$
      owed to Arnold?

      Delete
  16. Anonymous3:02 PM

    So what else is new, if he would pay his bills maybe he could hire a competent attorney.
    =========================

    www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/11/trumps-defense-of-taking-foreign-money-is-historically-illiterate-215244

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous4:05 PM


    You get what you pay for; also sounds like his attorney should recluse himself since his former clients are a russian bank and another putin friend :)
    ==============================

    Trump’s lawyer is completely out of his depth and giving bad legal advice: NYT report

    ... The Times said that Kasowitz’ other main clients are also raising eyebrows. They include, “Sberbank, the largest state-owned bank in Russia, which was sanctioned by the Obama administration, and Oleg Deripaska, the Russian tycoon who is close to President Vladimir V. Putin and had business dealings with Paul Manafort, once Mr. Trump’s campaign chairman.”.....

    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/trumps-lawyer-is-completely-out-of-his-depth-and-giving-bad-legal-advice-nyt-report/

    ReplyDelete

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