Head Of Watchdog Group Says Trump's D.C. Hotel Was 'Epicenter' Of Corruption

[babylonsister]

Head Of Watchdog Group Says Trump's D.C. Hotel Was 'Epicenter' Of Corruption
The head of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington argued Donald Trump shouldn't have been allowed to retain ownership of the hotel as president.
Mary Papenfuss
12/19/2021 12:40am EST | Updated 3 hours ago


Former President Donald Trump raked in payments from foreign interests at his Pennsylvania Avenue hotel in an operation that was the “epicenter” of a corrupt presidency, the head of a citizen watchdog organization says.

“Anyone looking to curry favor with his administration could simply walk over to his namesake hotel a couple blocks from the White House and flash cash,” Noah Bookbinder, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, wrote in an opinion piece for NBC published Saturday.

Bookbinder slammed the operation in the wake of a scathing report issued by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The report, released Thursday, asserts that Trump received payments ― unfettered and unmonitored ― through his hotel from foreign entities.

The General Services Administration, in charge of monitoring the landmark Old Post Office property that the Trump Organization leases from the public, was found to have “ignored glaring constitutional issues.” The report also stated the administration “allowed for conflict of interest” when Trump refused to divest from the property while serving as president.

The emoluments clause of the Constitution prohibits federal officers from receiving payments or benefits from foreign interests to safeguard against undue influence.

Yet, the GSA “washed its hands of any responsibility” to track foreign government payments to the hotel or identify the origins of more than $75 million in loans arranged by Trump and his family, according to the report.

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https://www.huffpost.com/entry/watchdog-group-trump-hotel_n_61be9aeae4b0c7d8b8909b79

[Irish_Dem]

1. There is so much obvious grift and corruption.

Just out in the open.

The secret stuff must be mind boggling.

[PatSeg]

10. Good point

I've never seen such brazen, in-your-face corruption before and I'm sure what we don't know is probably far worse.

[Jerry2144]

2. The first clue there was corruption

Was in the name of the hotel, itself.

[2naSalit]

3. At least we have official confirmation now.

[Thomas Hurt]

4. Hell, the Pig had the wax son-in-law running around the ME peddling influence as well.

[SharonClark]

5. We hear info like this again and again and again

and yet nothing gets done. Tired of it.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

6. Shithole central.

[Hekate]

7. Dear Toothless Watchdogs: No Shit, Sherlock

[GoCubsGo]

8. Duh.

Numerous people have been pointing this out since he was sworn in. Get back to us when something actually gets done about it.

[FelineOverlord]

9. From 2018:

Link to tweet