District of Columbia and Maryland v. Trump

Case Overview

The District of Columbia and the State of Maryland sued President Trump under both Emoluments Clauses over the Trump International Hotel in Washington. Judge Peter Messitte adopted a broad reading of 'emolument' as any profit, gain, or advantage, calling the clauses broad anti-corruption provisions, and allowed the case to proceed. On January 25, 2021, after Trump left office, the Supreme Court vacated the lower rulings and ordered the case dismissed as moot, which erased that broad-reading precedent.