RICHMOND — A federal appeals court seemed skeptical Tuesday that President Trump is illegally profiting from foreign and state government visitors at his luxury hotel in downtown Washington or that his financial gain comes at the expense of local competitors.
The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit was reviewing a novel case brought by the attorneys general of Maryland and the District of Columbia involving anti-corruption provisions in the emoluments clauses of the U.S. Constitution.
The once-obscure clauses were designed to prevent undue influence on government officials but have never been applied in court to a sitting president.