A federal judge has refused to delay a landmark emoluments lawsuit against President Donald Trump — and he pointed in his ruling to an attitude expressed by Trump in one of the president’s own tweets. U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte of Maryland refused a Justice Department request to halt the lawsuit against Trump, which accuses him of violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution. The clause bars federal officials from accepting gifts or benefits from foreign officials or governments. The ruling Friday means that the plaintiffs will likely move quickly to obtain income and business documents from the president, and possibly tax returns, which Trump has yet to release. One of the arguments the Justice Department used against the suit was that it would be a burden and too much of a “distraction” for the president to deal with while running the country.

Source: Huffington Post November 04, 2018 06:40 UTC