Rule of Law

Democrats subpoena Trump businesses in emoluments case

Congressional Democrats issued dozens of subpoenas seeking documents and records from President Donald Trump‘s private businesses Monday.

The 37 subpoenas seek information from Trump’s businesses including the Trump organization, Trump Tower, his hotels in New York and Washington, D.C., and his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida related to a case by 200 Democrats alleging the businesses violate the constitutional ban on gifts or payments from foreign governments.

“We’re seeking a targeted set of documents to obtain the information that we need to ensure the president can no longer shirk his constitutional responsibility,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in a statement.

The subpoenas, issued by the Constitutional Accountability Center, which is representing the group of Democrats including Blumenthal and House judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., demand evidence about Trump’s financial records by July 29.

In a court filing Monday, the Department of Justice asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to dismiss the case or put it the subpoenas on hold stating that Trump “is likely to suffer irreparable injury.”

“If the district court’s clearly erroneous orders are allowed to stand, this improper suit will proceed and members will commence discovery aimed at probing the president’s personal financial affairs because he holds federal office,” the Justice Department wrote to the court.

In April, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan denied a previous Justice Department request to dismiss the lawsuit, accepting a broad definition of the term emoluments after the agency stated it only applies to payments received for government action taken by a president in his official role and shouldn’t involve private business transactions with foreign governments.

More from Rule of Law

Rule of Law
May 22, 2025

PODCAST NPR’s The Indicator from Planet Money: How Trump is making coin from $TRUMP coin

NPR
[audio mp3="https://www.theusconstitution.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NPR7405315985.mp3"][/audio] Just before Trump began his second administration in January, he and his business...
Rule of Law
May 20, 2025

CAC Release: Attempts to Intimidate Public Officials Doing Their Jobs Should Concern All Americans

WASHINGTON, DC –  Upon press reports of the Trump Department of Justice’s decision to charge Congresswoman...
Rule of Law
May 16, 2025

CAC Release: At the D.C. Circuit, Everyone Agrees that the Constitution Does Not Permit the President to Unilaterally Shutter the CFPB

WASHINGTON, DC – Following oral argument at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District...
Rule of Law
May 16, 2025

CAC Release: Skepticism About Trump Administration’s Power Grab at Labor Rights Agencies at D.C. Circuit Argument This Morning

WASHINGTON, DC – Following oral argument at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District...
Rule of Law
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

J. Doe 4 v. Musk

In J. Doe 4 v. Musk, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland is considering whether Elon Musk’s role in DOGE violates the Appointments Clause and the Constitution’s separation of powers.
Rule of Law
May 9, 2025

Dodd-Frank Authors Join Warren, Waters to Challenge CFPB Firings

Bloomberg Law
Top Democrats, Dodd-Frank namesakes cite separation of powers Amicus brief highlights CFPB’s 2008 financial crisis...