D.C. and Maryland v. Trump

D.C. and Maryland v. Trump
CourtUnited States District Court for the District of Maryland
DecidedDismissed as moot (January 25, 2021) 592 U.S. 20-331
DefendantDonald Trump
Counsel for plaintiffsNatalie O Ludaway
Steven M Sullivan
Patrick Hughes
PlaintiffsThe District of Columbia
The State of Maryland
CitationNo. 8:17-cv-01596
Court membership
Judge sittingPeter Jo Messitte

D.C. and Maryland v. Trump was a lawsuit filed on June 12, 2017, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. The plaintiffs, the U.S. state of Maryland and the District of Columbia, alleged that the defendant, President Donald Trump, had violated the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution by accepting gifts from foreign governments.[1][2] The lawsuit was filed by D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine and Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh.[2][3]

The suit alleged that Trump had committed "unprecedented constitutional violations" by not disentangling his business interests from his presidential responsibilities.[3] The attorneys general cited the Trump International Hotel's effect on business in the Washington D.C. area as one reason for filing the lawsuit.[4] The suit sought an injunction to stop Trump from violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution.[2][3] The attorneys general stated they would seek Trump's tax returns as part of their case.[5]

A three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the case in July 2019, ruling that the attorneys general lacked legal standing to sue.[6] All three of the judges were appointed by Republican presidents.[7] New arguments in an en banc rehearing of the appeal were heard on December 12, 2019.[8][9]

On May 14, 2020, the full Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the defense's attempt to have the case dismissed on the grounds of presidential immunity by a 9-to-6 majority, reviving the lawsuit.[10] On January 25, 2021, five days after Trump left office, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a summary disposition ordering the Fourth Circuit to dismiss the case as moot.[11]

  1. ^ LaFrainere, Sharon (June 12, 2017). "Maryland and D.C. Sue Trump Over His Private Businesses". The New York Times. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Davis, Aaron C. (June 12, 2017). "D.C. and Maryland sue President Trump, alleging breach of constitutional oath". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Gambino, Lauren (June 12, 2017). "'Unprecedented violations': states sue Trump for not separating business ties". The Guardian. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  4. ^ Witte, Brian (June 12, 2017). "Maryland, D.C. attorneys general file federal lawsuit against Trump". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  5. ^ Pramuk, Jacob (June 12, 2017). "Two attorneys general sue Trump: Checks and balances 'are failing us'". CNBC. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  6. ^ Wamsley, Laurel (July 10, 2019). "Appeals Court Orders Dismissal Of Emoluments Lawsuit Against Trump". NPR. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  7. ^ Harris, Andrew M (July 10, 2019). "Trump Wins Dismissal of Emoluments Case by Maryland and D.C." Bloomberg News. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  8. ^ Weiss, Debra Cassens (October 15, 2019). "4th Circuit to reconsider claim that Trump is violating the emoluments clause". ABA Journal. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  9. ^ Polantz, Katelyn (December 12, 2019). "Appeals court divided on future of lawsuit over Trump hotel". CNN. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  10. ^ Williams, Pete (May 14, 2020). "Appeals court gives green light to Trump emoluments lawsuit". NBC News. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  11. ^ CERTIORARI -- SUMMARY DISPOSITIONS. January 25, 2021. U.S. Supreme Court.