‘Oh, Hi, Corruption’
“Whoever would have imagined this relationship would prove complicated and fraught? Oh, right, the Founders. Who prohibited it. In the Constitution.”
Former Washington, DC Post Office Building. Leased by Trump Organization and converted into a hotel. Often leased by fundraisers for the Republican Party and prominent conservative causes.by Jessica Corbett, staff writer
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
In a revelation Tuesday that swiftly elicited allegations of corruption, the New York Times reported that President Donald Trump’s family business—from which he has refused to divest—is seeking rent relief for his infamous D.C. hotel from his own administration, as the global hotel industry continues to struggle with the financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Oh, hi, corruption,” tweeted television writer J. Holtham. Journalist Renee Montagne said she was “not sure whether to laugh or cry.”
“No swamp to drain here, folks. Move along,” remarked Tim Karr of Free Press, referencing one of Trump’s campaign pledges from 2016.
The 263-room Trump International Hotel is operated by the Trump Organization within a federally owned building mere blocks from the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue. The president’s company negotiated a 60-year lease for the space in 2013 and pays the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) almost $268,000 per month.
Although the Trump Organization announced plans to sell the hotel lease last year, the company’s sales representative Jeffrey Davis confirmed to the Washington Post in late March that sale plans were now on hold because of how the pandemic has affected the commercial real estate industry.
Idk does this seem like a problem to anyone? pic.twitter.com/0K5Tr0BrxY
— Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) April 21, 2020
As the Times reported Tuesday:
The newspaper noted that “the Trump Organization was barred by Congress from seeking relief from the $500 billion rescue fund being administered by the Treasury Department, and a Trump Organization executive said on Tuesday that the company had decided not to apply for a federal loan through the Small Business Administration. The company argues that it is seeking only temporary relief from the GSA while the hotel industry globally copes with an extraordinary drop in business.”
Trump’s White House and the GSA didn’t respond to the Times‘ requests for comment.
Exclusive: @realDonaldTrump's company wants a break on the rent it owes the federal govt for its DC hotel – exactly the type of conflict of interest that critics have been warning about. with @benprotess @SteveEder @EricLiptonNYT https://t.co/XHmfI9Ph1n
— David Enrich (@davidenrich) April 21, 2020
However, political commentators, journalists, and advocacy groups were quick to weigh in:
The moment Trump became president he became his own landlord through the GSA, which owns the Old Post Office Building in DC that’s now a Trump Hotel. GSA said it wasn’t a conflict of interest but you’ll never guess what’s happening now… https://t.co/IbBDTECHAI
— Matt Novak (@paleofuture) April 21, 2020
President Trump’s signature hotel in the nation’s capital wants a break on its rent. The landlord determining the fate of the request is Trump’s own administration.
If that's not a conflict of interest, what is?https://t.co/9RpD1Goy9R
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) April 21, 2020
But, if you’re a small business trying to get a federal loan to pay your employees, forget about it. https://t.co/gHzZdLG6BJ
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) April 21, 2020
Critics often pointed to previous arguments that Donald Trump’s continued ownership of the hotel runs afoul of the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clause, given that it has been frequented by special interest groups and foreign officials throughout his presidency.
This is what we call a conflict of interest. Also known as corruption or unconstitutional Emoluments violations.
https://t.co/fyV0SLX99C— Common Cause (@CommonCause) April 21, 2020
Whoever would have imagined this relationship would prove complicated and fraught? Oh, right, the Founders. Who prohibited it. In the Constitution. https://t.co/gs4UxIvALO
— Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) April 21, 2020
This is why we have an emoluments clause in the Constitution.
Trump’s business is asking the Trump administration to change the lease payments on his Trump Hotel because he’s losing money with the coronavirus pandemic and owes Deutsche Bank $300 million. https://t.co/p33oFQjfK5
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 21, 2020
The Trump Organization hasn’t just sought relief from the GSA during the public health crisis.
“The company has been talking with Deutsche Bank, the president’s largest creditor, about the possibility of postponing payments on its loans from the bank,” according to the Times. “Mr. Trump owes Deutsche Bank more than $300 million on loans connected to the Washington hotel, his Doral golf resort in Florida, and a skyscraper in downtown Chicago.”
Eric Trump confirmed ongoing negotiations with Palm Beach County to the Times and echoed his comments regarding the GSA request. “In Florida, the very county that mandated we close is the very county collecting rent,” he said. “What are they doing for others? Just treat us the same.”
This article published by CommonDreams on April 20,2020, here…
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