Impeachment 2.0? Democrats set to target Trump again – despite impeachment acquittal

Mr Trump this week claimed victory after Senators voted to acquit him 52-48 on charges of abuse of power and 53-47 on obstruction of Congress. A federal appeals court today threw out a lawsuit brought by Democrats which accused Mr Trump of violating anti-corruption provisions in the US Constitution with his business dealings, rounding off a week of political victories for him.

Mr Trump immediately hailed the ruling as a “total win,” telling reporters that “it was another phoney case”.

However, Democratic lawyer Elizabeth Wydra said she was disappointed by the decision and were weighing their next steps.

He still faces two similar lawsuits pending in other courts which also accuse him of violating the Constitution’s rarely tested “emoluments” clauses barring presidents from taking gifts or payments from foreign and state governments.

The lawsuits are all focused on his ownership of the Trump International Hotel in Washington, close to the White House.

The hotel, opened by Trump shortly before he was elected in 2016, has become a popular event space for some foreign and state officials visiting Washington.

Unlike past presidents, Mr Trump has retained ownership of his business interests while serving in the White House.

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“But we will not – indeed we cannot – participate in this debate.”

One of the two other emoluments lawsuits against Trump, brought by the Democratic attorneys general for the District of Columbia and Maryland, is awaiting a ruling by the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

At least one of those cases could end up being decided by the US Supreme Court, according to legal experts.

In that one, the Justice Department argued that senior presidential aides are immune from congressional subpoenas for testimony like one issued by the Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee to former White House Counsel Don McGahn.

Assessing Mr Trump’s acquittal, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said: “A simple majority of Senators denied the Senate’s right to examine relevant evidence, call witnesses, review documents, and properly try the impeachment of the president – making this the first impeachment trial in history of this country that heard from no witnesses.

“A simple majority of senators, in deference to – and most likely in fear of – the president of their party, perpetrated a great miscarriage of justice in the trial of President Trump.

“As a result, the verdict of this kangaroo court will be meaningless.

“By refusing the facts – by refusing witnesses and documents – the Republican majority has placed a giant asterisk, the asterisk of a sham trial, next to the acquittal of President Trump, written in permanent ink.

“Acquittal in an unfair trial – with this giant asterisk, the asterisk of a sham trial – is worth nothing at all, to President Trump or anybody else.”

source: express.co.uk