Justice lawyers try to halt Donald Trump financial records release
Justice Department lawyers asked a federal judge Friday to let them file a legal appeal that could, for now, keep President Donald Trump’s critics from getting access to financial records related to his Washington, D.C., hotel. Trump has been fighting multiple lawsuits that argue that foreign representatives’ spending money at the Trump International Hotel is a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clause, which bans federal officials from accepting benefits from foreign or state governments without congressional approval. U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte, who is based in Maryland, ruled last month that one of those lawsuits could go forward. In a sally to prevent the case moving on to legal discovery — which would potentially unearth financial records such as Trump’s income tax returns — Justice Department lawyers asked Messitte on Friday to put the case on hold while they appeal his decision to a higher court in Richmond, Virginia. The plaintiffs, the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia, have said they plan to move forward quickly with discovery — for example, seeking information from the hotel, a Trump hotel steakhouse and the General Services Administration as well as the president’s financial records. In court documents, the Justice Department objected to any discovery on a sitting president in his official capacity because of separation of powers concerns, in order to avoid a “constitutional confrontation” between two branches of government. Justice lawyers argued that the “public interest is decidedly in favor of a stay because any discovery would necessarily be a distraction to the President’s performance of his constitutional duties.” D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine responded: “After winning two major rulings in this case already, we anticipated President Trump’s most recent motion. Nonetheless, our case is still moving forward. We are on track to propose a schedule for discovery by September 14, and we hope to request relevant documents shortly thereafter.” The emoluments clause has never been fully tested in an American courtroom. Two other lawsuits accusing the president of violating the emoluments clause are also being heard in other federal courts. Neither has reached the discovery stage. Messitte’s ruling last month that an emolument “extends to any profit, gain or advantage” was the first time a federal judge had defined the term’s application to the president. It is that definition, and the argument that the plaintiffs have suffered actual harm and have a right to sue, that the Justice Department wants reviewed by a higher court. The plaintiffs have argued that Trump — who has declined to divest from his assets as president — is capitalizing on the presidency and causing harm to businesses trying to compete with his Washington hotel, which is just steps from the White House. The Justice Department has said earnings from business activities, including hotel room stays, don’t qualify as emoluments. Its attorneys have argued that under Maryland and D.C.’s interpretation, no federal official would even be able to own stock from a foreign company that provides profits or collects royalties. The case raises important questions and should provide “clarity on the boundaries of what a president can do while in office,” said Ted Boutrous, a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP who’s been keeping an eye on all the cases, but isn’t involved. “The discovery would be interesting too,” he added with a laugh. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Polling shows Alabama voters want Doug Jones to confirm Brett Kavanaugh
Polling shows that 54 percent of Alabama voters want Brett Kavanaugh confirmed as a Supreme Court Judge, according to the Susan B. Anthony (SBA) List. The SBA List and pro-life activists assembled in Mobile on Wednesday to call on U.S. Senator Doug Jones; compelling him to confirm Kavanaugh and adding themselves to the growing list of groups urging him to do so. “Polling shows that 53 percent of Alabama voters agree President Trump has chosen well qualified judges for the Supreme Court,” Jill Stanek, national campaign chairman for Susan B. Anthony list said at the rally. “And 54 percent want the senate to confirm Kavanaugh.” “We urge senator Jones to stand against Chuck Schumer and the radical abortion lobby; stand with the President…and pledge to vote to confirm judge Kavanaugh immediately,” Stanek continued. The SBA list is a national non-profit organization aimed at ending abortion by electing leaders and advocating for anti-abortion laws, according to the group’s website. Several organizations have called on Jones to support Kavanaugh. Last week, the National Rifle Association’s political arm the Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) posted a video asking voters to tell Jones they support Kavanaugh by signing a pledge on their website. This week, an Alabama bus company joined Concerned Women of America in an eight-state tour to promote the confirmation of Kavanaugh. Earlier this week, Jones held a town hall meeting in Birmingham during which the conversation was dominated by his decision on Kavanaugh. “I am doing a lot of work on the Supreme Court nominee,” Jones told the crowd. “He will be there for life twenty, thirty years, maybe more, we do not know.” Jones has previously stated that he would be keeping an “open mind” on his vote, and told the Associated Press he wanted to do his “due diligence” on Kavanaugh’s work. “Respectfully, Senator Jones, when you go to the Senate floor there is not a moderate button to push; it is a yes, or it is a no,” Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) Chairman Terry Lathan told the crowd at the rally. “Humbly, and very gratefully, we ask you Senator Jones, to hear our voices…We are here to share with you and we are here to tell you very clearly; the people of this state want this judge seated and we’re asking you to cast that vote.” According to AL.com, this is not the first stop the group has made. The SBA list has also visited Florida, Indiana, North Dakota and Missouri, “urging Democratic Senators in battleground states to back Kavanaugh’s confirmation.” Watch the full video of the rally below:
National fisheries administration approves Alabama snapper program
The federal government has approved a system developed by the state of Alabama to count the number of red snapper caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Gulf states, fishing groups and the NOAA Fisheries have disagreed for years about how many snapper can be caught. The decision means Alabama’s numbers can be used in the federal count. The state’s Marine Resources director, Scott Bannon, says anglers are frustrated with short snapper seasons. He says the federal decision is a “huge step” toward managing gulf waters. The state developed the Snapper Check program in 2014. It uses a combination of electronic reporting by anglers and dockside checks to verify the number of snapper that boats are keeping. NOAA Fisheries says it will work with the state to further implement the program. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Candidate Profile: Karlos Finley for Mobile County Circuit Court Judge
Karlos Finley, the lone Democratic candidate vying for a seat on the Mobile County Circuit Court in the 13th Judicial Circuit, Place No. 6 will face off against a Republican challenger who had to fight her way to the top in November. Before the June 5 primary, four Republican candidates vied for a seat on the circuit court; two candidates garnered enough support to throw the race into a runoff election: Brandy Hambright and Harry Satterwhite. Hambright won the runoff with over just over 50 percent of the votes, and now faces Finley in the November 6 general election. But who are these candidates, and what do they hope to accomplish? Democratic candidate Karlos Finley: Finley comes from a long line of movers and shakers in Mobile, Ala. His father opened the first African-American chain of drug stores in the state of Alabama, and “his parents, along with other progressive thinkers, led the Civil Rights movement of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s in Mobile with the goal of bringing about a more unified community and equality for all of the city’s citizens,” Finley’s campaign website reads. “Their efforts helped to send the first African-American State Representatives from Mobile County to the Alabama State House in 1974.” After graduating from high school, Finley himself joined the U.S. Coast Guard, receiving several medals for his efforts during Gulf Coast Hurricanes including the Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal. Upon his honorable discharge, Finley attended the University of Mobile receiving his Bachelors degree, then Miles School of Law to earn his Juris Doctorate. Finley has since served in the Mobile County District Attorney’s office as an Assistant District Attorney, and practiced as a personal injury lawyer with the Moore and Wolfe and the, Boteler and Wolfe legal firms according to his LinkedIn profile. In 2011 he was promoted to Partner and now practices with the Boteler, Finley, and Wolfe firm; and in 2015 was appointed as a Municipal Court Judge for the city of Mobile, according to Mobile City Council meeting minutes. On top of his impressive legal career, Finley serves on several boards in Mobile County including the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Alabama, Bishop State Community College Foundation, and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation. He also serves as Vice President of the Mobile Bar Foundation. “I am running for Circuit Court Judge because I have inherited a passion for service to community and I am the most qualified person for the position,” Finley told Alabama Today. “Our community deserves the most qualified person serving it on the highest Trial Court for our state.” “I am the only candidate in this race with experience as both an attorney and a judge, an undisputed fact that should weigh heavily on the minds of voters,” Finley continued. “It is critical that all who enter our courts have confidence that they will be treated fairly, have an equal chance to be heard and that their position will be considered by a judge who will weigh the evidence equally.” You can follow his campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Donald Trump says he ‘won’t let’ social media target conservatives
President Donald Trump is accusing social media companies of “totally discriminating against Republican/Conservative voices” and says “we won’t let that happen.” Trump’s Saturday morning tweets come as companies have been working to ban right-wing “Infowars” conspiracy theorist Alex Jones from their platforms. Apple, YouTube and Spotify have permanently removed some of his content, Facebook has suspended him for 30 days and removed some of his pages, while Twitter has given Jones a weeklong timeout and is mulling deeper changes to try to limit the spread of fake news, misinformation and hate speech. Trump did not mention Jones by name in his tweets, which complained that, “Too many voices are being destroyed, some good & some bad.” Trump appeared on Jones’ program during the 2016 campaign and praised his “amazing” reputation. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
