In 2017, Attorney General Racine and Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh sued President Trump for violating the Constitution’s Emoluments Clauses, our nation’s original anti-corruption laws. The Emoluments Clauses prohibit the president from accepting money or benefits from foreign or domestic governments.
Unlike previous presidents, President Trump has refused to separate himself from his businesses and OAG alleges that he continues to accept money from foreign and domestic governments through transactions at the Trump International Hotel here in the District. The Framers designed these anti-corruption laws to ensure Americans never have to wonder whether the president is working on our behalf or in his personal financial interest.
In a historic ruling in July 2018, a federal court judge agreed that the president is prohibited from accepting almost anything of value—including gifts, payments, and benefits—from foreign or domestic governments. OAG is continuing the work to stop the president from violating the Constitution and using his office for profit.
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Media
- D.C. & Maryland AGs Sue Trump for Constitutional Violations (6/12/17)
- Emoluments Lawsuit FAQs (6/12/17)
- Attorney General Racine Responds to Department of Justice’s Motion to Dismiss Emoluments Clause Lawsuit (9/29/17)
- AG Racine & AG Frosh File Response Brief in Emoluments Clause Lawsuit (11/08/17)
- Court Order in Emoluments Case Allows DC and Maryland to Serve Subpoenas for Document Preservation on Trump Businesses (11/29/17)
- Statement of Attorneys General Karl A. Racine and Brian E. Frosh on Today’s Federal Court Arguments on Emoluments Lawsuit(01/25/18)
- AGs Racine and Frosh Welcome Federal Court Ruling Allowing Lawsuit Against President Trump to Move Forward (3/28/18)
- Attorney General Racine and Maryland Attorney General Frosh to Hold Media Availability after Emoluments Hearing June 11
- Statement from AG Racine on Court's Historic Ruling in Emoluments Lawsuit (07/25/18)
- Statement from AG Racine on Federal Court Ruling Denying President Trump Request To Block Emoluments Lawsuit (11/02/18)
- Emoluments Lawsuit Update: Making History and What’s Next (11/21/18)
- Press Call regarding Trump Emoluments lawsuit after the Fourth Circuit victory (05/14/20)
Legal Documents
- Plaintiffs' Complaint (6/12/17)
- Defendant's Motion to Dismiss (9/29/17)
- Plaintiffs' Motion for Leave to Serve Document Preservation Subpoenas (10/25/17)
- Defendant's Response to Motion for Leave to Serve Document Preservation Subpoenas (10/27/17)
- Plaintiffs' Reply in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Leave to Serve Document Preservation Subpoenas (11/02/17)
- Plaintiffs' Memorandum of Law in Support of Plaintiffs' Opposition to Motion to Dismiss (11/07/17)
- Order Granting Leave to Serve Preservation Subpoenas(11/28/17)
- Order Approving Parties' Oral Argument Schedule (01/12/18)
- Plaintiffs' Memorandum in Support of Plantiffs' Motion for Leave to File an Amended Complaint (02/23/18)
- Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint (02/23/18)
- Order Granting Motion for Leave to Amend (03/13/18)
- Defendant's Statement of Interest Regarding Individual Capacity Complaint (03/26/18)
- Standing: Order and Opinion (03/28/18)
- Defendant's Motion to Dismiss as it Relates to His Individual Capacity (05/01/18)
- Plantiffs' Memorandum of Law in Support of Plantiffs' Opposition to Motion to Dismiss of Defendant in his Individual Capacity (05/18/18)
- Order on Motion to Dismiss (07/25/19)
- Opinion on Motion to Dismiss (07/25/18)
- Plaintiffs' Joint Recommendation on Next Steps (08/15/18)
- Defendant's Motion for Certification of Appeal (08/17/18)
- Defendant's Response in His Official Capacity (09/05/18)
- Joint Discovery Plan (09/14/18)
- Plaintiffs' Opposition to Certification of Interlocutory Appeal (09/17/18)
- Defendant's Support to Certification of Interlocutory Appeal (09/26/18)
- Order on Interlocutory Appeal and Stay (11/02/18)
- Opinion on Interlocutory Appeal and Stay (11/02/18)
- Plaintiffs' Proposed Schedule of Discovery (11/21/18)
- Defendants' Individual Capacity Request for Status Conference (12/03/18)
- Scheduling Order Regarding Discover (12/03/18)
- Trump Organization Subpoenas (12/04/18)
- Federal Government Subpoenas (12/04/18)
- State of Maine Subpoenas (12/05/18)
- Trump Individual Capacity Notice of Appeal (12/14/18)
- Plaintiffs' Notice of Voluntary Dismissal in Individual Capacity (12/19/18)
- Plaintiffs' Suggestion of Mootness Regarding Defendant's Stay Motion (12/19/18)
- Emoluments Stay (12/20/18)
- Fourth Circuit Mandamus Schedule (12/21/18)
- Order Granting Motion to Extend Filing Time (01/22/19)
- Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss Appeal (01/23/19)
- Order Granting Establishment of Deadlines (01/24/19)
- Respondents’ Brief In Opposition To Petition For Writ Of Mandamus (02/06/19)
- Appellant's Reply Brief (02/22/19)
- Fourth Circuit Opinion (07/10/19)
- Plaintiffs' Petition for Panel Rehearing or Rehearing En Banc in Official Capacity (08/26/19)
- Plaintiffs' Petition for Panel Rehearing or Rehearing En Banc in Individual Capacity (08/26/19)
- Plaintiffs' Letter to the Court Regarding CREW Case Ruling (09/13/19)
- Order for Rehearing En Banc in Fourth Circuit for Official Capacity (10/15/19)
- Order for Rehearing En Banc in Fourth Circuit for Individual Capacity (10/15/19)
- Plaintiffs' Supplemental Brief (11/14/19)
- Defendant's Supplemental Brief in Official Capacity (11/14/19)
- Defendant's Supplemental Brief in Individual Capacity (11/14/19)
- Opinion in Fourth Circuit En Banc Rehearing for Official Capacity (05/14/20)
- Opinion in Fourth Circuit En Banc Rehearing for Individual Capacity (05/14/20)
- Opposition to Extend the Stay of District Court Proceedings in Official Capacity (06/17/20)
- Opposition to Extend the Stay of District Court Proceedings in Individual Capacity (06/17/20)
- Order Granting Stay from Fourth Circuit for Official Capacity (07/09/20)
- Order Granting Stay from Fourth Circuit for Individual Capacity (07/09/20)