May 1, 2018

Trump requests emoluments lawsuit against him be dropped

Haley Britzky

Photo: Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images

President Trump is requesting that a lawsuit accusing him of violating the Constitution's Emoluments Clause be dropped, CNN reports, although the president is "still is absolutely immune," according to the filing.

The big picture: The Emoluments Clause "prohibits federal officeholders from receiving gifts and payments from foreign states of their representatives," per CNN. Trump is being sued both as an individual and as president in two separate suits, and is requesting that the claim against him as an individual be dismissed. According to CNN, the judge previously allowed the lawsuit to focus "payments made by foreign officials for services at the Trump International Hotel" in Washington.

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Axios

Situational awareness

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Catch up on today's biggest news:

  1. Warren supporters form super PAC
  2. We may be on "the brink" of coronavirus pandemic
  3. Pentagon policy chief resigns
  4. National polls show Bernie in control ahead of Nevada
  5. How a Chinese think tank rates all 50 U.S. governors
  6. Sanders and Bloomberg battle over heart health
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Stef W. Kight

Trump has declared war on sanctuary cities

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Armed with subpoenas, lawsuits and immigration SWAT teams, the Trump administration has declared war on sanctuary cities.

The big picture: President Trump and his administration have used every available tool to try to crack down on local governments that refuse to hold immigrants in criminal custody, block immigration agents from working in county jails or deny federal authorities access to immigrants' records.

Go deeperArrow2 hours ago - Politics & Policy
Dan Primack

Peter Thiel's Founders Fund isn't really Peter Thiel's Founders Fund

Illustration: Photo Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios. Photos: Charles Eshelman, Steve Jennings, and Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Founders Fund has raised $3 billion for a pair of new funds, so expect a slew of headlines about how "Peter Thiel's venture capital firm" is now flush with cash.

Behind the scenes: Thiel is essential to Founders Fund, but he's not autocratic. Instead, Axios has learned that he's one of three people with veto power over most FF investments, and is unable to do a deal without approval of the other two.

Go deeperArrow7 hours ago - Economy & Business