Trump emoluments lawsuits thrown out by US Supreme Court

The high court also ordered the lower court rulings thrown out as well and directed appeals courts in New York and Richmond, Virginia, to dismiss the suits as moot now that Mr Trump is no longer in office.

Former US president Donald Trump (AP/Alex Brandon)

The US Supreme Court has brought an end to lawsuits over whether Donald Trump illegally profited from his presidency.

The justices threw out Mr Trump’s challenge to lower court rulings that had allowed lawsuits to go forward alleging that he violated the US constitution’s emoluments clause by accepting payments from foreign and domestic officials who stay at the Trump International Hotel and patronise other businesses owned by the former president and his family.