Democrats sue Trump on foreign payments to biz
Democratic lawmakers are suing US President Donald Trump over foreign money flowing into his global business empire.
Almost 200 Senators and representatives are plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging Trump is violating the so-called emoluments clause of the Constitution. It was to be filed on Wednesday morning in the district court for the District of Columbia, they said.
Although Trump turned over control of his real estate development, management and marketing company to his adult sons and a senior executive, he did not divest from it. That means he stands to benefit financially from the Trump Organization’s profits, including from foreign governments.
TILLERSON TO TESTIFY BEFORE HOUSE PANEL
Secretary of state Rex Tillerson will testify before a House panel as momentum builds on Capitol Hill for a package of new Russia sanctions aimed at punishing Moscow for meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Tillerson was scheduled to appear before the foreign affairs committee, just hours ahead of a vote in the Senate on the sanctions. Tillerson warned lawmakers the US relationship with Russia is at an all-time low and deteriorating further.
SESSIONS HITS OUT AT ‘FALSE ALLEGATIONS’
Attorney general Jeff Sessions heatedly defended himself before his former Senate colleagues as he denied having an undisclosed meeting with Russia’s ambassador and rejected any misconduct in the ouster of FBI director James Comey.
Sessions vowed to defend his honour “against scurrilous and false allegations” and declared it a “detestable and appalling lie” to suggest he was aware of or took part in any Russian collusion.