Discovery on hold in AGs’ suit as judges will hear Trump’s appeal
Discovery on hold in AGs’ suit as judges will hear Trump’s appeal
Welcome to 1100 Pennsylvania, a newsletter devoted to President Donald Trump’s Trump Hotel International Washington, D.C. (and his other companies). President Trump, of course, still owns his businesses and can profit from them.
If you like what you see, tell someone. If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, subscribe for yourself at zacheverson.substack.com. Tips or feedback? Contact me, Zach Everson, securely via email at 1100Pennsylvania@protonmail.com or on Signal at 202.804.2744.
Discovery on hold in AGs’ emoluments suit as judges will hear Trump’s appeal
Yesterday the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that it would hear the president’s appeal of district court decisions that allowed the D.C. and Maryland attorneys general’s emoluments suit to proceed to discovery.
In the meantime, the appellate court halted discovery in the case. It had started Dec. 3 and was scheduled to run through Aug. 2, 2019, with the AGs already having issued 38 subpoenas, including to the Trump Organization; the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, and Treasury and the GSA; and the state of Maine.
Oral augments for the appeal will take place March 19–21 in Richmond.
Mattis’s Trump Hotel connection
Outdoing Defense Sec. James Mattis is the rare Trump cabinet member I’ve never spotted at the president’s hotel.
Noteworthy sightings
Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) and Fox News’s Gina Loudon pose in front of the Christmas tree.
Former editor-in-chief of Breitbart London/UKIP advisor and an associate of Nigel Farage’s, Raheem Kassam, hung out again in the lobby.
Diamond and Silk® (seriously, ®) talked by the Christmas tree.
Conservative pundit Eric Bolling was found to be “a great American all around.”
Scheduler for Rep. Glenn Thompson (R–PA), Lindsey Reusser, and communications director for lobbying firm Horizon Government Affairs, Jonathan Frank, celebrated Christmas.
Some folks adamant about clearing Michael Flynn patronized the president’s hotel and made sure to tag the business. The president/innkeeper, of course, has the power to pardon Flynn.
While Twitter users often heckle the hotel’s managing director, Mickael Damelincourt, it’s rare for him to reply. He did here though. (Also, note that conservative pundit Paris Dennard, gave the hotel’s employee party pics a retweet.)
New campaign expenditure
Bill PAC, affiliated with retiring Rep. Bill Shuster (R–PA), spent $960 for lodging on Nov. 5, 2018 at the president’s hotel. And Shuster’s campaign has spent $31,961.61 there.
Legal cases, current status (latest change, Dec. 21, 2018)
D.C. and MD attorneys general’s emoluments lawsuit (link to district court docket, link to appeals court docket)—
UPDATED Official capacity—On Dec. 20, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it would hear the president’s appeal of district court rulings that allowed the case to proceed to discovery. Oral augments on the appeal will take place March 19–21. In the meantime, the court halted discovery in the case. Discovery had started Dec. 3 and was scheduled to run through Aug. 2, 2019, with the AGs already having issued 38 subpoenas, including to the Trump Organization; the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, and Treasury and the GSA; and the state of Maine.
Individual capacity—On Dec. 14, Trump’s personal attorneys appealed the denial of their motion to dismiss the case, also to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. On Dec. 19, the AGs replied to Trump’s motion for a stay pending that appeal by voluntarily dismissing the claims against Trump in his “individual capacity to allow the claims against President Trump in his official capacity to move forward expeditiously.” (The AGs only brought suit against Trump in his individual capacity after the judge suggested they do so.)
196 Democratic senators and representatives’ emoluments lawsuit—On Sept. 28 judge Emmet G. Sullivan ruled that the legislators have standing to sue. Trump’s Justice Department attorneys filed an interlocutory appeal on Oct. 22.
CREW et. al’s emoluments lawsuit—In February, CREW appealed its suit being dismissed for lack of standing to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Oral arguments on that motion were held on Oct. 30.
Cork’s unfair competition lawsuit—Judge Richard J. Leon dismissed the case on Nov. 26, writing “Cork has failed to state a claim for unfair competition under D.C. law.” On Dec. 10, Cork’s attorneys filed a notice of appeal.
Employees’ class-action suit alleging racial discrimination—A status hearing on arbitration is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2019.
Health inspections, current status (latest change, Aug. 10, 2018)
❌Hotel: five violations on May 7, 2018; two were corrected on site
❌BLT Prime and Benjamin Bar: nine violations on Aug. 10, 2018
❌Sushi Nakazawa: two violations on Aug. 10, 2018
✔️Banquet kitchen: no violations on Aug. 10, 2018
❌Pastry kitchen: two violations on Aug. 10, 2018
✔️Gift shop: no violations on May 7, 2018
❌Employee kitchen and in-room dining: five violations on Aug. 10, 2018; two were corrected on site
Other Trump Organization news
“Unable to indict the president, Manhattan federal prosecutors may focus on Trump Organization” by Luppe B. Luppen (better known as @nysouthpaw on Twitter) for Yahoo News
“Powell’s rate hike may have just cost Trump another $1 million” by Shahien Nasiripour for Bloomberg
“They are suing Trump and fear retaliation. A judge rules they can stay anonymous for now.” By Benjamin Weister for The New York Times.
After losing $4.5 million in 2017, Trump’s Turnberry golf course is now trying to make some money by hosting professional boxing matches.
One thing that has nothing to do with Trump’s businesses (I think, tough to tell sometimes!)
HUD region II administrator Lynne Patton (yes yes, she’s a former Trump Org event planner) went after a reporter in this Twitter exchange.
Thanks for reading. If you like what you saw, tell someone. If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, subscribe for yourself at zacheverson.substack.com. Tips or feedback? Contact me, Zach Everson, securely via email at 1100Pennsylvania@protonmail.com or on Signal at 202.804.2744.