Lobbyist's House campaign paid president's D.C. hotel
Lobbyist's House campaign paid president's D.C. hotel
A Congressperson resigned. He registered as a lobbyist. His committee continued to spend at the president’s hotel.
A timeline—
Sept. 23, 2019—Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) resigned from Congress to “be the support my wife, baby and family need right now.”
Nov. 25, 2019—Duffy registered as a lobbyist.
Jan. 21, 2020—Duffy’s campaign spent $644 on travel at the Trump Hotel D.C.
President Donald J. Trump still owns that business and can profit from lawmakers-turned-lobbyists’ campaigns spending money there.
The $644 expense comprised 2.6 percent of the Duffy campaign’s first quarter operating expenditures, which totaled $24,396.06. (Last quarter his campaign also paid the Ritz-Carlton $3,300 and Delta Airlines $4,756.75.) Most of Duffy’s campaign’s other first quarter disbursements were to other committees or to cover administrative fees.
Duffy’s campaign has been a customer of the president’s D.C. hotel since March 2017, disbursing a total of $22,204.91 there—including more than $17,000 on a single day in July 2019. Two months after that expenditure, Trump took to Twitter to praise Duffy and plug his wife’s book, as 1100 Pennsylvania reported at the time.
The former lawmaker becoming a lobbyist was first reported by Theodoric Meyer for Politico. Duffy is also a CNN contributor.
About a week before the Duffy campaign’s latest Trump Hotel D.C. disbursal, but well after it’d already dropped more than $20,000 there, Duffy enjoyed “one of the coolest things I have ever done”—a ride with President Trump aboard Air Force One.
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Other campaign expenditures
The campaign for Sen. John Thune (R-SD) spent $3,170.18 for event catering on Jan. 17 at the head of the executive branch’s D.C. hotel. Thune’s campaign now has reported spending a total of $14,186.35 at the Trump Hotel D.C. (one of those disbursements, for $2,615.33, came a year to the day before the latest disbursal). A Thune-affiliated PAC, Heartland Values, has also patronized the president’s D.C. business, spending $3,351.75 there in April 2019 (as 1100 Pennsylvania reported at the time).
The campaign for Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) spent $138.30 for food and beverage on Feb. 5 at the head of the executive branch’s D.C. hotel. Bilirakis’s campaign now has reported disbursing a total of $371.90 at the Trump Hotel D.C.
The campaign for Rep. Doug Lamborn (R–CO) spent $72.50 for food and beverages on Jan. 21 at the head of the executive branch’s D.C. hotel. Lamborn’s campaign now has reported disbursing a total of $456.60 at the Trump Hotel D.C.
The campaign for Gene Truono, a losing candidate in the 2018 Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Delaware, spent $645 for lodging on Jan. 15 at the head of the executive branch’s D.C. hotel. It was the first time Truno’s campaign reported disbursing money at the Trump Hotel D.C.
Notable sightings
A glimpse of the foreign officials, government employees, politicians, lobbyists, and the like who patronize or appear at Trump businesses. (Or a lot of empty seats!) Most people shown here have reasons to want to influence the Trump administration, rely on its good graces for their livelihoods, or should be providing oversight. Additionally, high-profile guests serve as draws for paying customers.
While the nation’s capital is under a stay-at-home order through June 8, the Trump Hotel D.C. hosted a wedding this weekend according to managing director Mickael Damelincourt.
Other Trump Organization news
Trump Org EVP Eric Trump—a businessperson walled off from his father’s administration—tweeted 10 times over the weekend: all of his updates were about politics.
Known Twitter enthusiast Donald Trump—a U.S. president walled off from his businesses—follows 46 accounts on that social-media service. Eight of them, 17 percent, belong to his company.
“Donald Trump and his son have an insane new coronavirus conspiracy theory” by Jeremy Schulman for Mother Jones
“Trump calls in to NBC golf event, pines for large crowds and no masks” by Peter Weber for The Week
The Trump Store’s new summer collection is heavy on American flag-themed merch.
On Sunday, President Trump promoted Charlie Kirk and his latest work with a tweet reading, “A great guy, a great book!” Kirk, and his Turning Point USA, of course, are also great Trump Org customers.
“Barr installs top DOJ aide, prosecutor of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago trespasser, as deputy over U.S. prosecutors in Washington” by Spencer S. Hsu and Keith L. Alexander for The Washington Post
David Fahrenthold of The Washington Post has not been able to substantiate one of Eric Trump’s claims.
The International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society’s summit is scheduled for Doral in November.
Trump Dubai made a claim about its “required social distancing” that a recent Instagram post undercuts(photo no longer publicly available, but the May 12 issue of 1100 Pennsylvania included a screenshot).
@TrumpGolfDubai we can assure you of the best course conditions and required social distancing/sanitization practices to ensure you enjoy your game while we take care of the rest. Book today at trumpgolfdubai.com/tee-times
Reference section
Links to rundowns of developments in the House’s investigations and lawsuits, reference sheets for some of 1100 Pennsylvania’s previous reporting, and articles that provide the background on why all of this matters. The date published or last updated is in parentheses.
Trackers
House investigations (May 15, 2020)
Lawsuits (May 15, 2020)
Breakdown of judges’ rulings by political party of presidents who nominated them (May 14, 2020)
Health inspections (Jan. 27, 2020)
COVID-19 bailouts and charity (March 18, 2020)
Notable hotel customers
Foreign governments with representatives spotted at the Trump Hotel D.C.: 31 (March 4, 2020)
Trump cabinet members spotted at the Trump Hotel D.C.: 26 of 34 (April 15, 2020)
U.S. Senators who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: 33 of 53 Republicans, one Democrat (Feb. 21, 2020)
House Judiciary members who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Seven of 17 Republicans, no Democrats (April 21, 2020)
House Intelligence members who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Five of nine Republicans, no Democrats (Feb. 7, 2020)
House Oversight members who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Six of 17 Republicans, no Democrats (April 21, 2020)
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Four out of five Republicans, one Democrat (April 21, 2020)
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R–CA) found Trump’s hotels competitive only after Trump’s election (Sept. 12, 2019)
Rudy Giuliani at the Trump Hotel D.C: A retrospective (April 30, 2019)
Summaries
25 unimpeachable examples of Trump profiting from his hotel: Foreign governments, Trump administration, GOP lawmakers, industry all have called on the Trump Hotel D.C. since its owner became president (Sept. 27, 2019)
“Power tripping in the swamp: How Trump’s D.C. hotel swallowed Washington
The MAGA social scene is a movable feast, but its dark heart resides within the Old Post Office Building, where the Trump Org operates under a mercenary charter” by your correspondent for Vanity Fair (October 2019)“Inside the world’s most controversial hotel: The hotel that was expected to take its place among the crown jewels of D.C.’s travel scene has become a magnet for protestors, a West Wing Annex, and—possibly—the center of a constitutional crisis.” by your correspondent for Condé Nast Traveler (May 2018)
27 times Trump’s promoted his businesses on Twitter while president (May 12, 2020)
Upcoming key dates
Sept. 23, 2019—House Judiciary Committee hearing “Presidential corruption: Emoluments and profiting off the presidency” (postponed, not yet rescheduled)
May 21, 2020—House Oversight committee’s deadline for the Trump Organization to turn over documents and communications relating to COVID-19 related bailouts from foreign and domestic governments
May 29, 2020—Status hearing before D.C. Superior Court in former hotel employees’ lawsuit alleging racial discrimination
June or July 2020—Before postponement of oral arguments due to a coronavirus-related closure, Supreme Court decision due on Trump’s appeal of earlier rulings requiring his financial institutions to comply with subpoenas from House Financial Services, Intelligence, and Oversight
Aug. 10, 2020—Scheduling conference before D.C. Superior Court in D.C. attorney general’s lawsuit alleging improperly spent nonprofit funds by the Trump Hotel D.C. and Trump’s inaugural committee
Oct. 29, 2020—Mediation session in at least a one-time Trump appointee in the Commerce Department’s lawsuit against the Trump Hotel D.C., alleging a shard of glass from a sabered bottle of champagne left a gash in her chin
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