What, I said to myself, is an emolument? Webster's, here I come. According to the Merriam-Webster Collegiate 10th edition, an emolument is "the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites." I would suggest that what the Founders had in mind was preventing any Federal officer holder from also holding an office or employment from a foreign government--for obvious reasons of conflict of interest. As JMG has observed, Congress has passed various bills on the subject. Some office holders have been more scrupulous than others--refusing even minor personal gifts. Being one of those people given to finding strange pictures in uncommon words I will note that emoluments sound oily to me. I picture slaves bringing in alabaster bottles of richly scented unguents, although the word actually derives from grinding, as of meal. So derived from payments in grain or bread?

I think it is worth noting that it has been some time since any president or cabinet official has left office poorer than they went in, or been found in genteel poverty after retirement. Neither party, at any level of government, wants to turn the spotlight on why that is the case. So, while outside groups may push for Trump to be accused and indicted under this clause I doubt there will be any support for the notion in the Capitol, even if the Democrats achieve a majority in one or both houses.

Rita