Key Takeaways:
– The House Oversight Committee discovered Donald Trump’s D.C. hotel inflated prices for Secret Service agents by as much as 300%.
– The hotel reportedly received at least $7.8 million from foreign entities during Trump’s presidency.
– Various U.S. ambassadors, federal appointees, governors, and even a cabinet secretary spent money at the hotel.
– The investigation also revealed individuals seeking presidential pardons frequently stayed at the hotel.
– The committee believes approximately $300,000 in payments to the Trump Corporation over an 11-month period broke the Constitution’s emoluments clause.
The Trump Legacy: Hospitality or Excess?
Democrats from the House Oversight Committee brought attention to ex-President Donald Trump’s Washington, D.C. hotel with the release of their two-part report. The hotel reportedly increased room rates by as much as 300% for Secret Service agents. These findings came on the heels of an earlier revelation that the hotel pocketed $7.8 million from foreign entities during Trump’s tenure in office.
An Unexpected Price Hike: Secret Service Targeted
Secret Service personnel tasked with securing Trump’s son, Eric, and his wife, Lara, found themselves on the receiving end of an exorbitant price hike on November 28, 2017. Their rooms each cost $600 per night. Interestingly, over 80 rooms that same night charged guests less than $600.
Stay and Pay: High-Profile Guests Frequent Trump Hotel
The report also noted that over an 11-month period, individuals from government and legal circles – U.S ambassadors, a state legislative delegation, two governors, and even a Trump cabinet secretary – made purchases at the hotel. U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Kelly Craft, who later became the United Nations ambassador, spent a whopping $30,000 at the Trump hotel over 20 nights. Despite being offered a less expensive option, Craft insisted on staying at the Trump hotel.
Pardons and Payments: The Connection Emerges
Individuals seeking presidential pardons were also listed among the hotel’s clientele. Albert Pirro, ex-husband of Fox host Jeanine Pirro, and previously charged with federal conspiracy and tax evasion, coughed up over $2,000 at the Trump Hotel in 2018. He earned a presidential pardon as Trump left office.
Constitutional Violation: The Emoluments Clause
According to the committee, payments to the Trump Corporation reaching $300,000 over eleven months appear to transgress the Constitution’s emoluments clause. This law serves to deter presidents from profiting off foreign or domestic governments during their time in office.
International Interests: Profit from the Middle East
The initial part of the report established that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates had spent over $700,000 at Trump’s D.C. hotel within the first two years of his presidency. These international interests magnify the overall financial implications of the transactions involved.
The End of the Trump Era Hotel
Despite the controversy surrounding its operations during Trump’s presidency, the hotel has since been sold. While Trump may no longer own the Washington, D.C. hotel, the findings from this report shed light on the questionable interaction between his presidency and his private business empire. This report underscores the impact of the blurred boundary between business and public service, raising questions about accountability, conflict of interest, and the importance of transparency on all levels of leadership.