In case anyone was curious about today's lawsuit against Trump.
What is the Emoluments Clause?
The Clause says “No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: 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, from any king, prince, or foreign state.”
It was inserted into the Constitution as a way to prevent sitting leaders from accepting foreign gifts or payments in order to ensure complete neutrality from outside influence and to prevent — even the appearance — of corruption.
The Clause applies to "all officials holding appointed positions in the Judicial and Executive Branches of the national government," according to the National Constitution Center.
Where does it come from?
The Clause was originally intended to counter the common 17th-century practice of gifting expensive items to “departing foreign emissaries or diplomats at the end of their tenure in the host country,” according to the National Constitution Center.
In 1787, Charles Pinckney, one of the Constitution's signers, “urged the necessity of preserving foreign Ministers & other officers of the U. S. independent of external influence,” and he moved to add the Clause.
It's a reminder of the framer's tough stance against political corruption, kickbacks, and undue outside influence on the nation's leaders.