Nigel Farage, welcome back
Welcome to 1100 Pennsylvania, a newsletter devoted to President Donald Trump’s Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C. (and his other companies). President Trump, of course, still owns his businesses and can profit from them.
If you like what you see, tell someone—and support this work by becoming a paying member ($5/month or $50/year). If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, subscribe for yourself at zacheverson.substack.com. Questions? Read our FAQ/manifesto. Tips or feedback? Contact me, Zach Everson, securely via email at 1100Pennsylvania@protonmail.com or on Signal at 202.804.2744.
Farage among CPAC revelers at Trump’s hotel; previous visits cited in emoluments lawsuit
In the D.C. area for CPAC, former UKIP leader Nigel Farage hung out with fellow conference attendees at the U.S. president’s hotel last night.
Farage made the 10.6-mile drive from the Gaylord to the Trump Hotel D.C. at least twice previously (although it appears this year he was at the president’s hotel before attending CPAC, rather than afterwards). The D.C. and Maryland attorneys general cited this change of venues as evidence of a Maryland venue losing business to the president’s hotel in their emoluments lawsuit versus President Trump:
Farage’s return marked the second time this week that the Trump Hotel D.C. received repeat patronage from a client already cited in an emoluments lawsuit. This Tuesday, the Kuwaiti embassy celebrated its national day for the third straight year at the U.S. president’s private business (new info on that event appears later in this issue of 1100 Pennsylvania).
Farage’s presence at the Trump Hotel D.C. didn’t go unnoticed by all the CPAC goers who switched venues after the conference’s events ended for the day.
Also spotted at the Trump Hotel D.C. last night after CPAC:
Trump Org EVP and son of the president Donald Trump Jr., posing here with a staffer on the Utah attorney general’s executive team, Becca Olea
de-platformed alt-right media personality Laura Loomer
Students for Trump chairman, Ryan Fournier, and NRA social-media manager Billy McLaughlin
an intern for the House Republican Campaign Committee, Mary Arteiro
chair of the University of Central Florida’s chapter of College Republicans, who also worked for Ron DeSantis’s (R) campaign for governor, Sarah Gibson
unidentified powerful people
someone who may have been over-served
As for CPAC’s affect on the president’s bottom line, a guest who apparently stayed at the hotel while in town for the American Academy of Dermatology’s annual meeting (the Trump Hotel D.C. is an official hotel for the event) reported that the lobby was packed at midnight. And executive chef, Oliver Beckert shared that business was good last night too.
The Kuwaiti embassy party update: Conway was there too
Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway attended Kuwait’s national day celebration Tuesday at the Trump Hotel D.C. according to the Kuwait News Agency. This new sighting is in addition to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and HUD Secretary Ben Carson, whose presence at their boss’s hotel for this foreign government’s event was reported in Wednesday’s 1100 Pennsylvania.
Additionally, a tipster reports seeing the ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the United States, Hunaina al-Mughair. And Fox News national security expert Walid Phares posted photos on Thursday showing him at the hotel. Like Conway and Ross, Phares went to last year’s celebration too. (While the Kuwait News Agency claimed that Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar was present, the department’s Twitter account later said that a scheduling conflict precluded him from attending.)
Other noteworthy sighting
Former Rep. Pete Sessions (R–TX) apparently discussed “future blooming business ventures” at BLT Prime.
Other Trump Organization news
“At least 14 federal agencies have created no guidance for spending taxpayer money at Trump properties” by American Oversight
President Trump is holding a campaign fundraiser with the RNC on March 10 at Mar-a-Lago, Thomas Kaplan of The New York Times reported:
“Scottish government wins Donald Trump wind power legal costs” by BBC News
“About a dozen trees cut, dumped into Potomac River at Trump golf club in Virginia” by Patricia Sullivan for The Washington Post
“Trump’s money man draws unwelcome spotlight: Allen Weisselberg’s longtime loyalty to Trump will be tested by demands that he testify before Congress.” By Darren Samuelsohn and Anita Kumar for Politico.
Trump Org event planner turned HUD region 2 head Lynne Patton wants you to know she did not sign an NDA:
Patton, by the way, appears to be auditioning for a reality TV show, by Tracy Jan for The Washington Post
A look at corruption in Nigeria takes stock of which of the country’s politicians have and have not visited the Trump Hotel D.C., by Matt Mossman for Foreign Policy
“Matthew Calamari went viral after the Cohen hearing. He’s real, and he loves Trump.” By Allysoin Chiu for The Washington Post.
Trump, Inc. host Ilya Marrtiz shared a photo of the sleeve the Trump Hotel D.C.’s room key comes in—and noted a few problems
A reminder, Trump’s money-losing Turnberry golf course is diversifying its revenue streams:
House investigations, current status (latest changes, March 1, 2019)
Financial Services—Sent an inquiry to Deutsche Bank AG on its ties to Trump, according to the bank on Jan. 24.
Foreign Affairs—Chair Rep. Elliot Engel (D–NY) “plans to investigate whether President Donald Trump’s businesses are driving foreign policy decisions, including whether Trump violated the emoluments clause of the Constitution in the process” per CNN on Jan. 23.
UPDATED Intelligence—On Feb. 6, chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D–CA) issued a statement that said his committee would investigate links or coordination between the Russian government/related foreign actors and individuals associated with Trump’s businesses, as well as if foreign actors sought to compromise or hold leverage over Trump’s businesses. During an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Feb. 10, Schiff said the committee will investigate Trump’s relationship with Deutsche Bank, a major lender to the Trump Organization. Earlier, on Jan. 24, the committee sent an inquiry to Deutsche Bank AG on its ties to Trump, according to the bank. On Feb. 28, an aide said the panel expects to interview Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg. Felix Sater, who was connected to the Trump Moscow project, is scheduled to testify in an open hearing on March 14, with Michael Cohen returning to testify before the panel on March 6.
UPDATED Oversight and Reform—Chair Rep. Elijah Cummings’s (D–MD) staff “has already sent out 51 letters to government officials, the White House, and the Trump Organization asking for documents related to investigations that the committee may launch,” according to CBS News on Jan. 13. In a Feb. 15 letter to White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, Cummings said the committee received documents showing White House attorney Stefan Passantino and long-time Trump personal attorney Sheri Dillon provided “false information” to the Office of Government Ethics regarding Michael Cohen’s “hush-money payments.” As a result, Cummings wants to depose both Passantino and Dillon. And on Feb. 27, Cohen testified to the committee about those payments and other Trump Organization business practices, which could lead to the committee requesting the president’s tax returns and allegations of possible insurance fraud. The next day, House Democrats signaled they would seek testimony from Trump Organization officials whom Cohen alleged were implicated, including Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and CFO Allen Weisselberg.
Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management—Transportation committee chair Rep. Peter DeFazio (D–OR) and subcommittee chair Dina Titus (D–NV) sent a letter to GSA administrator Emily Murphy on Jan. 22 asking for all communication between the GSA and members of the Trump family dating back to 2015, an explanation of how the hotel calculates its profits, profit statements since the hotel opened in 2016, any guidance from the White House regarding the lease, and whether or not Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are recused from participating in decisions regarding the property. GSA has “sent a partial response and the subcommittee is reviewing it,” according to a senior House staffer familiar with the situation. When hearings begin, it is likely that Murphy will be the first person called to testify, according to a person familiar with the subcommittee’s plans.
Ways and Means subcommittee on Oversight—The subcommittee held its first hearing on “legislative proposals and tax law related to presidential and vice-presidential tax returns” on Feb. 7. “We will ask the question: Does the public have a need to know that a person seeking the highest office in our country obeys tax law?” said chair Rep. John Lewis (D–GA). Experts in tax law testified.
Legal cases, current status (latest change, Feb. 22, 2019)
D.C. and MD attorneys general’s emoluments lawsuit (district court docket, appellate court docket)—
Official capacity—On Dec. 20, 2018, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it would hear the president’s appeal of district court rulings that allowed the case to proceed to discovery, and the appellate court halted discovery in the case. Discovery had started Dec. 3 and was scheduled to run through Aug. 2, 2019, with the AGs having subpoenaed the Trump Organization, including its Scottish golf courses; the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, and Treasury and the GSA; and the state of Maine. Oral arguments on the appeal are scheduled for March 19. The AGs filed their brief opposing the president’s appeal on Feb. 6, stating, “The President is not entitled to an order requiring the district court to certify for interlocutory review its denial of his motion to dismiss. No court has ever issued such relief.” Trump’s DOJ attorneys replied on Feb. 21: “Plaintiffs fundamentally err, substantively and procedurally.”
Individual capacity—On Dec. 14, Trump’s personal attorneys appealed the denial of their motion to dismiss the case, also to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. On Dec. 19, the AGs replied to Trump’s motion for a stay pending that appeal by voluntarily dismissing the claims against Trump in his “individual capacity to allow the claims against President Trump in his official capacity to move forward expeditiously.” (The AGs only brought suit against Trump in his individual capacity after the judge suggested they do so.) Trump’s personal attorneys, on Dec. 21, opposed the motion to dismiss at the district level, saying the appeals court now has jurisdiction and accusing the AGs of “gamesmanship.”
196 Democratic senators and representatives’ emoluments lawsuit—On Sept. 28, Judge Emmet G. Sullivan ruled that the legislators have standing to sue. Trump’s Justice Department attorneys filed an interlocutory appeal on Oct. 22. On Jan. 30, 2019, the plaintiffs’ filed a notice of supplemental authority, notifying the court of the GSA inspector general’s report that criticized GSA for failing to consider if the Trump Hotel D.C.’s lease was in compliance with the Constitution after Donald Trump became president. Two days later, the president’s attorneys argued that the IG’s conclusion was not inconsistent with Trump’s argument, but that the judge should ignore that report anyway because the IG has no expertise in interpreting or applying the foreign emoluments clause.
CREW et. al’s emoluments lawsuit—In February 2018, CREW appealed its suit being dismissed for lack of standing to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Oral arguments on that motion were held on Oct. 30.
Cork’s unfair competition lawsuit—Judge Richard J. Leon dismissed the case on Nov. 26, 2018, writing “Cork has failed to state a claim for unfair competition under D.C. law.” On Dec. 10, Cork’s attorneys filed a notice of appeal and on Jan. 10, 2019 they submitted a statement of issues to be raised. The next steps, which don’t yet have a timeline, include setting a briefing schedule and both sides filing appellate briefs.
Employees’ class-action suit alleging racial discrimination—Two of the three plaintiffs did not appear at a status hearing on Jan. 25, 2019; their cases were moved to arbitration. Via email, their attorney, A.J. Dhali, said his clients did not appear at the hearing because their case already had been moved to arbitration last year. The next status hearing is scheduled for Oct. 4.
Health inspections, current status (latest change, Aug. 10, 2018)
❌Hotel: five violations on May 7, 2018; two were corrected on site
❌BLT Prime and Benjamin Bar: nine violations on Aug. 10, 2018
❌Sushi Nakazawa: two violations on Aug. 10, 2018
✔️Banquet kitchen: no violations on Aug. 10, 2018
❌Pastry kitchen: two violations on Aug. 10, 2018
✔️Gift shop: no violations on May 7, 2018
❌Employee kitchen and in-room dining: five violations on Aug. 10, 2018; two were corrected on site
One thing that has nothing to do with Trump’s businesses (I think, tough to tell sometimes!)
“Lost Caravaggio painting found in attic could fetch $171 million at auction” by Emily Dixon for CNN
Thanks for reading. If you like what you see, tell someone—and support this work by becoming a paying member ($5/month or $50/year). If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, subscribe for yourself at zacheverson.substack.com. Questions? Read our FAQ/manifesto. Tips or feedback? Contact me, Zach Everson, securely via email at 1100Pennsylvania@protonmail.com or on Signal at 202.804.2744.