My wife is planning a candlelight vigil for the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, Constitution Day, which will feature readings from the charter and other founding documents.
We’re interested in developing a list of ways in which Trump has violated or directly threatened Constitutional precepts and traditions (including Amendments).
For example, the emoluments clause by enriching himself during his tenure, taking what amount to bribes, etc.; encouraging the denial of due process; imposing tariffs without the consent of Congress (or abrogating the power of the purse); essentially declaring war on US cities and invading them; etc.
Obviously, most of these will fall under Section II, on the Presidency, and the various Amendments.
We do not need an exhaustive list (which would be too exhausting), just a good number of significant and egregious examples that, ideally, would be correlated to the relevant section of the Constitution.
We have found this article from People’s World, the Marxist-Leninist successor to the Daily Worker newspaper. It’s a starting point, but it only goes up to June 25.
It would also be good to include positive news of attempts Trump has made that have been unsuccessful, to demonstrate that all is not lost (yet).
You realize Congress can approve emoluments right?
And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever,
I have no doubt this Congress would give their approval if necessary.
I would fully endorse the Republican Congress, acting on party lines, giving Donald Trump an explicit approval to accept any emolument. It’d be 1930 all over again.
But until they give that approval, he’s in violation.
Good question. Perhaps Congress should introduce a bill to give any citizen standing to sue for a violation of the emoluments clause.
It appears that’s the only way for Congress to enforce any law these days. It’s somewhat like “keeping order in a nursery with a loaded gun rather than a switch”, to quote Lieutenant Wong on a similar situation.
Lots of first amendment freed of speech violations: pressuring media companies to give him favorable press, deporting students who support Gaza, pressuring universities to do away with DEI policies, firing federal workers who don’t follow the party line etc.
Then there is the violation of due process by deporting people without allowing them to defend themselves in court, and arresting them when the show up.