Democrats: Government Agency Says Trump Must Rid Himself Of His Washington D.C. Hotel
- 7 years ago
The government agency that oversees the lease of the building that houses Donald Trump’s Washington, D.C. hotel has said that he must somehow rid himself of the property to avoid being in breach of contract upon his inauguration, according to several Democrats.
The government agency that oversees the lease of the building that houses Donald Trump’s Washington, D.C. hotel has confirmed that he must somehow rid himself of the property to avoid being in breach of contract upon his inauguration, four Democrats said.
The Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue is in the Old Post Office, which is the property of the U.S. government and overseen by the U.S. General Services Administration, or GSA, notes the Wall Street Journal.
BuzzFeed News reports that an official with that agency recently met with the Democrats.
In a letter confirming what was discussed, the group writes to the Administrator of the GSA, “...The Deputy Commissioner informed our staff that GSA assesses that Mr. Trump will be in breach of the lease agreement the moment he takes office on January 20, 2017, unless he fully divests himself of all financial interests in the lease for the Washington D.C. hotel. The Deputy Commissioner made clear that Mr. Trump must divest himself not only of managerial control, but of all ownership interest as well.”
The letter further notes, “Specifically, section 37.19 of the lease agreement provides: 'No member or delegate to Congress, or elected official of the Government of the United States...shall be admitted to any share or part of this Lease, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom.'”
Trump has voiced plans to pass his business dealings over to his sons, but it remains unclear if the GSA will deem that arrangement acceptable.
The government agency that oversees the lease of the building that houses Donald Trump’s Washington, D.C. hotel has confirmed that he must somehow rid himself of the property to avoid being in breach of contract upon his inauguration, four Democrats said.
The Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue is in the Old Post Office, which is the property of the U.S. government and overseen by the U.S. General Services Administration, or GSA, notes the Wall Street Journal.
BuzzFeed News reports that an official with that agency recently met with the Democrats.
In a letter confirming what was discussed, the group writes to the Administrator of the GSA, “...The Deputy Commissioner informed our staff that GSA assesses that Mr. Trump will be in breach of the lease agreement the moment he takes office on January 20, 2017, unless he fully divests himself of all financial interests in the lease for the Washington D.C. hotel. The Deputy Commissioner made clear that Mr. Trump must divest himself not only of managerial control, but of all ownership interest as well.”
The letter further notes, “Specifically, section 37.19 of the lease agreement provides: 'No member or delegate to Congress, or elected official of the Government of the United States...shall be admitted to any share or part of this Lease, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom.'”
Trump has voiced plans to pass his business dealings over to his sons, but it remains unclear if the GSA will deem that arrangement acceptable.