Trump facing lawsuit for not severing business interests

US President Donald Trump will face a lawsuit from the attorney generals of Maryland and Washington, who claim that he has not done enough to separate his business interests from his role in the White House.

The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Maryland on Monday, with the state’s top legal official Brian Frosh and DC’s Karl Racine alleging that Trump has committed “unprecedented constitutional violations” in the continuation of his private empire.

According to the US constitution's “emoluments” clauses, a president may not benefit financially from holding the Oval Office.

Trump is still the owner of his vast business empire, despite having taken over as President in January of this year. While retaining ownership, he gave control of his businesses to sons Eric and Donald Jnr.

The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Maryland on Monday

Frosh told reporters on Monday that Trump must face the consequences of such actions.

“The emoluments clauses are a firewall against presidential corruption,” Frosh said in Washington. “And the one thing we know about the president is he understands the value of walls. This is one he can’t climb over and it’s one he can’t dig underneath.”

“It is unprecedented that the American people must question day after day whether decisions are made and actions are taken to benefit the United States or to benefit Donald Trump,” he added. “The president’s conflicts of interest threaten our democracy.”

Trump’s presidency has been plagued by several ongoing scandals in the first five months, including allegations of links between his campaign and the Kremlin, while doubts still surround his private empire.