The legal troubles of former President Donald Trump continue to pile up as his longtime lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, has been ordered by a federal judge to produce documents related to a Chinese businesswoman’s visit to Mar-a-Lago. The order came as part of a lawsuit alleging that the former president and his associates violated the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause by accepting payments from foreign governments through his private businesses.
Trump Lawyer Ordered to Produce Mar-a-Lago Docs
U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska has ordered Alan Dershowitz to produce documents related to a 2018 visit by Chinese businesswoman, Zhang Yiman, to Mar-a-Lago. The documents requested include any records of communication between Dershowitz and Zhang or her associates, and any records of payment or compensation for legal services provided to Zhang. Dershowitz had previously argued that the documents were protected under attorney-client privilege, but the judge rejected that argument, stating that the privilege does not apply in this case.
Dershowitz is one of several defendants in the lawsuit, which alleges that the former president and his associates violated the Emoluments Clause by accepting payments from foreign governments through their businesses. The clause prohibits federal officials from receiving gifts or payments from foreign governments without approval from Congress. The lawsuit argues that foreign governments paid for rooms and other services at Trump’s hotels and resorts as a way to curry favor with the former president.
Court Demands Evidence on Chinese Businesswoman’s Visit
Zhang Yiman’s visit to Mar-a-Lago in 2018 has been a focus of the lawsuit, as she allegedly promoted access to Chinese officials for the Trump administration. The lawsuit alleges that Zhang paid for a table at a Trump fundraiser and later met with the former president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, at Mar-a-Lago. The plaintiffs are seeking evidence that Zhang paid for access to the Trump administration, which would violate the Emoluments Clause.
The lawsuit was initially dismissed by a federal judge in 2019, but an appeals court revived it last year. The case is one of several legal challenges facing the former president and his associates, including investigations into his business practices in New York and Georgia. The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for the interpretation of the Emoluments Clause and the use of private businesses by federal officials.
The order for Alan Dershowitz to produce Mar-a-Lago documents is just the latest development in the ongoing legal battles surrounding the former president’s business practices. The Emoluments Clause lawsuit has been a persistent challenge for Trump and his associates, and the outcome of the case could have significant implications for the use of private businesses by federal officials. As the legal proceedings continue, the public will be watching closely to see how the courts interpret the Constitution’s restrictions on foreign payments to federal officials.