Washington, DC — Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued a subpoena to the General Services Administration (GSA) for key documents regarding the federal lease with the Trump International Hotel in Washington D.C. GSA failed to comply with multiple requests from Chair DeFazio and the Chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Dina Titus (D-NV), who are conducting Congressional oversight of potential conflicts of interest and constitutional emoluments violations on the part of the President, who has refused to divest from his financial interests in the hotel.
“Political appointees at the GSA are trying to hide behind a pathetic excuse that Congress—a co-equal branch of the Federal government tasked with conducting oversight– can’t have key documents regarding a federally-owned property currently leased by the President. That’s absolutely outrageous and should not hold up in a court of law. The American people have a right to know whether the President of the United States, who is serving as both the landlord and tenant of the Old Post Office Building, is violating the Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution to enrich himself, and I plan to pursue these documents with every tool at my disposal,” said Chair DeFazio.
“The Trump Administration’s unprecedented level of stonewalling has given us no choice but to issue a subpoena. These documents are necessary for our committee to conduct oversight. We deserve to know exactly how much President Trump is profiting from foreign governments looking to curry favor by booking rooms at his hotel. The Founding Fathers put the Emoluments Clauses in the Constitution to prevent presidents from accepting bribes. We will not allow President Trump’s lawlessness and corruption to go unchecked,” said Chair Titus.
Today’s subpoena covers all documents included in a January 22, 2019 request, and includes key legal memos and financial records, which GSA has repeatedly refused to provide to the Committee. A comprehensive timeline of the Committee’s investigation into this lease can be found here.
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