Democrats Revive Emoluments Clause Debate, Demand Trump Return Foreign Profits
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Rep. Jamie Raskin sent a letter demanding Trump return $7.8 million his businesses received from foreign governments while he was president, calling it a violation of the Constitution.
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Trump defended profits from foreign governments during a Fox News town hall, praising his hotels and services provided to countries like China.
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Democrats argue the payments violated the foreign emoluments clause barring federal officials from accepting foreign gifts without Congressional approval.
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The emoluments clause legal debate was never resolved as cases were deemed moot when Trump left office, but Democrats have revived the issue.
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Raskin requested Trump provide a full accounting of his personal finances while president, as records obtained so far are incomplete.