WASHINGTON: Former US President Donald Trump’s business tried to hide millions of dollars in payments from foreign governments flowing through his unfavorable hotel in downtown Washington, said the United States Congress Committee on Friday.
The Committee of the House of Representatives concerning Supervision and Reformation said the hotel records increased the “troubling” question about Trump International Hotel, which is a historic building for Federal Government.
This hotel functions as a popular gathering place for Trump supporters, foreign officials and repentarters during their time in the office.
According to the controlled Democrat Committee, Trump reported that this hotel made it more than $ 150 million during his time in the office, but actually lost more than $ 70 million.
The Committee found that the hotel received payments of more than $ 3.7 million from foreign governments – roughly equal to more than 7,400 nights at the hotel, raises potential conflicts of interest.
Provisions in the US Constitution prohibit the President to obtain payments, or “emplements”, from foreign governments.
This hotel gave a portion of the US government but failed to provide the details of the payment to the General Service Administration (GSA), the agency that manages the federal properties, the Democrat Committee is controlled.
Trump lawyers argue in court cases that ownership will not violate this constitutional provision.
Trump’s organization spokesman did not immediately respond to a comment request.
GSA, too, did not respond immediately.
Democrats Congress said that the GSA striked their investigation into the Trump business when he was in the office, but in July 2021 finally produced several documents they were looking for.
The committee also found that Trump moved millions of dollars through other businesses, making it difficult for GSA’s ability to enforce the provisions that prohibit it to gather the benefits of the hotel.
The committee also found that he hid debt when he bid for the use of property in 2011.