Judge John H. Schlesingers dismissal of a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Eric Trump, in federal court Thursday is an example of the president’s “reckless disregard” for the rule of law, a court opinion said.
In a scathing opinion, Schlesings dismissal of the lawsuit, filed by the elder Trump in the Southern District of New York, said Trump “failed to produce any actual evidence that Eric Trump violated any of the provisions of his son-insignature” in his business dealings with the president and that Trump “engaged in conduct that violated” the emoluments clause of the Constitution.
The ruling, issued by Judge Thomas Griffith, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, said Schlesingers ruling is not a new development.
“It is well known that President Trump has been sued by his own son-on-law,” Griffith wrote.
“It is also well known, of course, that the emolsuments clause provides for the president to ‘impose’ its limits on the president, and to impose those limits on him, with or without the consent of Congress.”
“Thus, the court’s conclusion that the president did not violate any of his own emolument clauses is based on no evidence whatsoever,” Griffith added.
Trump’s lawyer, Robert Kuttner, also responded to the dismissal, arguing that Schlesingingers decision is “completely erroneous.”
Schlesinger’s ruling comes after an investigation into Trump’s business dealings found that he used a personal email account and cellphone to conduct business, including a number of meetings with foreign officials, foreign governments and business executives.
Schlesinger, a Republican, appointed by Clinton in 1999, was reelected in 2010.
The president-elect’s attorneys, Marc Kasowitz and Jay Sekulow, also had asked for his dismissal.
