'Name of the president' influenced Trump Hotel D.C.'s prices around his 2017 inaugural, manager testifies
'Name of the president' influenced Trump Hotel D.C.'s prices around his 2017 inaugural, manager testifies
In deposition, Trump Hotel D.C. managing director acknowledged president-elect’s ownership factored into 2017 inaugural rates
The managing director of the Trump Hotel D.C. acknowledged that the president-elect’s ownership of the hotel was a factor when setting rates around the 2017 inauguration. The concession occurred during a deposition in the D.C. attorney general’s lawsuit that accuses the inaugural committee of overpaying the hotel.
In a deposition taken in November 2020, excerpts of which were made public on Thursday in a court filing, Mickael Damelincourt, the top executive at the Trump Hotel D.C., included “the name of the president” among the factors he used in determining the hotel’s fair market value in the dates around Donald J. Trump’s inauguration.
The remainder of Damelincourt’s explanation for how he set prices was not included in the selections of the deposition made public (the filing skips from page 201 to page 207).
Nine days before Trump’s inauguration, his attorney Sheri Dillon said the president-elect “instructed us to take all steps realistically possible to make it clear that he is not exploiting the office of the presidency for his personal benefit.”
Notable sightings
A glimpse of the foreign officials, government employees, politicians, lobbyists, and the like who patronize or appear at Trump businesses. Most people shown here have reasons to want to influence the former president, rely on his good graces for their livelihoods, or should have been providing oversight. Additionally, high-profile guests serve as draws for paying customers.
Former President Donald J. Trump; former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA); Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R); former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R); former White House officials Larry Kudlow and Kellyanne Conway; former Trump cabinet members Ben Carson, Betsy Devos, and Mark Meadows; and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski attended the Conservative Partnership Institute’s fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday night. And Fox News’s Jeanine Pirro also was spotted at Trump’s resort cum house by The Daily Mail.
Reps. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Louie Gohmert (R-TX) spoke to the Save America Summit at Doral on Friday, reported Kyle Mazza of WUNF. Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) also appears to have attended the confab. The summit is organized by the same group behind the Jan. 6 rally that led to the insurrection at the Capitol.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) keynoted the America First Summit’s $500 per person BBQ at Doral on Friday night. He’s currently under investigation for possible sex trafficking, as first reported by Michael S. Schmidt, Katie Benner, and Nicholas Fandos for The New York Times.
While Trump First Tuesdays, the D.C. hotel’s monthly happy hour for lobbyists, have been on hiatus during the pandemic, the organizer, a partner at lobbying firm Barnes & Thornburg John Willding is still paying the former president.
To “keep America awesome,” Turning Point USA’s chief content officer Benny Johnson wants you to like and share this photo of him at Mar-a-Lago with former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino.
Other sightings and expected appearances at Trump properties
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) held a lunchtime fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, while Sarah Huckabee Sanders will host her second meet-and-greet with donors at the former president’s house later this weekend, reported Josh Dawsey, Lori Rozsa, and David A. Fahrenthold for The Washington Post. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) also is hosting a fundraiser at Mar-a-Largo this weekend according to the article.
Shortly before announcing his candidacy in New York’s gubernatorial race, Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, reported Brooke Singman for Fox News.
“Trump is slated to make an appearance at a fundraiser for the House Freedom Fund, the political arm of the House Freedom Caucus, to be held at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago resort on April 24. An invitation to the event lists Reps. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) as featured attendees, among others,” reported Alex Isenstadt for Politico.
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago this week, reported Jonathan Mattise for The Associated Press.
Former Secretary of State and current Fox News analyst Mike Pompeo, Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL), and Reps. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Brian Mast (R-FL) are set to appear at the Republican Party of Palm Beach County’s Lincoln Day Dinner at Mar-a-Lago on April 17, reported Eric Hananoki for Media Matters.
Other Trump Organization news
“Trump Organization hires criminal defense lawyer” by Corinne Ramey and Rebecca Davis O’Brien for The Wall Street Journal
“Manhattan district attorney seizes evidence from Trump executive’s former daughter-in-law” by Shayna Jacobs and David A. Fahrenthold for The Washington Post
“Trump executive’s son was given sizable salary, generous perks, documents show” by Shayna Jacobs, Jonathan O’Connell, and David A. Fahrenthold for The Washington Post
“Florida Senate unveils scaled-down gambling bills with no sports betting” by Skyler Swisher for The South Florida Sun Sentinel
“GOP mandating negative COVID test for entry to spring donor retreat in Florida” by David M. Drucker for The Washington Examiner
“Matt Gaetz’s travel records don’t do what he claims they do” by Suzanne Rowan Kelleher for Forbes
“What exactly is Trump doing at Mar-a-Lago all day?” by Ashley Feinberg for Trashberg
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 (Dec. 20, 2020)
Lawsuits (Jan. 26, 2021)
Breakdown of judges’ rulings by political party of presidents who nominated them (July 13, 2020)
Health inspections (Oct. 6, 2020)
COVID-19 bailouts and charity (Nov. 30, 2020)
Notable customers
Politicians spotted at Mar-a-Lago post-presidency (April 1, 2021)
Foreign governments with representatives spotted at the Trump Hotel D.C.: 33 (Sept. 22, 2020)
Trump cabinet members spotted at the Trump Hotel D.C.: 28 of 37 (Jan 21, 2021)
U.S. Senators who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: 35 of 65 Republicans, one Democrat (Jan. 21, 2021)
House Judiciary members who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Seven of 17 Republicans, no Democrats (Sept. 25, 2020)
House Intelligence members who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Four of eight Republicans, no Democrats (June 1, 2020)
House Oversight members who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Nine of 17 Republicans, no Democrats (Aug. 2, 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 six Republicans, one Democrat (July 1, 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
“Stay to play: Inside the sordid history of Trump’s D.C. hotel—And why the president’s prized property could be headed for a reckoning” by your correspondent for Mother Jones (September 2020)
“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)
Upcoming key dates
Sept. 23, 2019—House Judiciary Committee hearing “Presidential corruption: Emoluments and profiting off the presidency” (postponed, not yet rescheduled)
March 30, 2021—Deadline for GSA to provide information on the Trump Hotel D.C.’s lease to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Thanks for reading! If you like what you’ve read, tell someone.
If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, subscribe at 1100pennsylvania.com to support independent journalists dedicated to who’s paying the president.
If you’re a paid subscriber and would like to post a comment—or if you would like to view comments from paid subscribers—click the comment button.
Questions? Read our FAQ. Tips or feedback? Contact Zach Everson at 1100Pennsylvania@protonmail.com (it’ll be encrypted if you also use a ProtonMail account, which is free) or via Signal (secure), SMS, or mobile at 202.804.2744.