Federal Courts Dismiss Emoluments Clause Cases Against Trump as Moot

Federal appeals courts dismissed the two major Foreign Emoluments Clause lawsuits against President Trump as moot on the day he left office, ruling that the cases became nonjusticiable once he ceased to be president. CREW v. Trump and the Maryland and D.C. attorneys general case had alleged that Trump violated the Constitution by accepting payments from foreign governments at his Washington hotel and other properties during his presidency. No federal court ever issued a ruling on the merits of whether a sitting president can receive foreign government payments under the Emoluments Clause.