u.s. department justice friday call dismissal lawsuit allege president donald trump violate constitution accept foreign payments hotels lawsuit file january say trump violate constitution emoluments clause bar accept gift foreign governments without congressional approval maintain ownership business empire despite cede day-to-day control sons file manhattan federal court friday justice department argue plaintiffs case ethics non-profit restaurant group hotel events booker legal stand sue government also say payments trump hotels qualify violation emoluments clause intend cover personal service perform president plaintiffs broad-brush claim effectively assert constitution disqualify president serve president maintain ownership interest commercial businesses department say court file spokesman ethics watchdog citizens responsibility ethics washington one plaintiffs immediately respond request comment lawsuit say businesses hotel bookers injure foreign governments try curry favor trump favor enterprises say even occur since trump take office china grant trademark right pledge honor one china policy white house predecessors doj friday say payments trump restaurants new york city 24,000 restaurants cause enough specific harm plaintiffs give ability sue u.s. district judge ronnie abrams appointee former democratic president barack obama oversee litigation u.s. seek dismiss lawsuit trump foreign payments