Pompeo lobbied on behalf of foreign minority group: Trend alert
Lobbyist claimed he championed Pakistani minority group to United States’ top diplomat
On Friday at the Trump Hotel D.C., a lobbyist advocated on behalf of a Pakistani minority group to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, according to the lobbyist’s tweet. Pompeo now joins President Trump and Vice President Pence in having been lobbied on behalf of a foreign interest at the U.S. president’s D.C. hotel.
Pompeo was at his boss’s D.C. hotel for the Concerned Women of America’s 40th anniversary gala, where he was the lunchtime speaker. Puneet Ahluwalia—a consultant with the The Livingston Group lobbying firm, the managing partner of New World Strategies, and a district representative of the Virginia Republican State Central Committee—tweeted that he brought up with Pompeo the Mohajirs (also spelled Muhajir), a community of Urdu-speaking Muslims who migrated from India to Pakistan during partition and reportedly face persecution. Ahluwalia appears to have gained access to the United States’ top diplomat by attending a luncheon thrown by a paying client of the president’s business.
According to Ahluwalia’s Linkedin profile, he “leads business development domestically and internationally” for The Livingston Group “work[s] with international companies seeking to enter U.S. markets,” and has performed work on behalf of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ahluwalia also headed the fundraising subcommittee for a Trump inaugural ball with ties to China and a Saipan casino where “thousands of dollars in donations flowed to an undisclosed source,” Lulu Ramadan of The Palm Beach Post reported in April.
Later on Friday, Ahluwalia tweeted a photo of himself apparently exiting the White House, saying he was there to discuss U.S. immigration policy.
Trump campaign–Trump Org synergy reaches the race track
Bob Benza, the stock car-driving father of Trump Org EVP Eric Trump executive assistant Kimberly Benza, competed in a Keep America Great-themed Camaro this weekend. Benza raced at the NHRA Countdown to the Championship at Mohnton, Penn’s Maple Grove Raceway.
Eric Trump, who is walled off from his father’s administration, tweeted how proud he was of his assistant’s father.
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 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.
Matt Lohr, the Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service chief and a political appointee, promoted the president’s hotel on Facebook and Instagram.
A special assistant to the president and deputy press secretary, Judd Deere, got the better of the Sunday scaries at his boss’s D.C. hotel.
Rocky Stafford, a USAR unit administrator with the Department of Defense, stayed at the commander-in-chief’s D.C. hotel.
William Stowell, a candidate for sheriff in Botetourt County, Virginia, relished the movement for freedom in a hotel room owned by the U.S. president.
Right-wing provocateur Jacob Wahl mingled.
Tory L. Lucas, a law professor at Jerry Falwell Jr.’s Liberty University, wants the world to know he loves BLT Prime.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) led a rally for D.C. statehood in front of the president’s hotel.
Other Trump Organization news
This morning on Twitter, President Trump responded to House inquiries about how he’s profiting from his presidency.
“8 years of Trump tax returns are subpoenaed by Manhattan D.A.” by William K. Rashbaum and Ben Protess for The New York Times
“U.S. Border Patrol deputy chief Scott Luck will be celebrating his retirement later this month with a private party at president Donald Trump’s lavish golf resort in Virginia, according to a flyer for the event obtained by Quartz.” by Justin Rohrlich for Quartz
“Warren goes after Trump’s sister in anti-corruption push” by Gideon Resnick for The Daily Beast
“Scottish ministers urged to launch review into Trump and Prestwick” by Martyn McLaughlin for The Scotsman
“2020 and the art of hunting Trump” by Frank Vogl for The Globalist
“Grand Hotel considered for 2020 G7 summit” by Chad Livengood
“Donald Trump’s relative: He’s never given a penny to his mother's Scottish community” by Martyn McLaughlin for The Scotsman
President Trump golfed at his Sterling, Virginia golf course on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend, reported the White House press pool
The official White House twitter account promoted an article by a Trump Hotel D.C. regular who often plugs the president’s business on social media, Paris Dennard. Just last week, in fact, Dennard praised the hotel’s housekeeping. (Last year CNN suspended Dennard after The Washington Post reported he’d been fired from a previous job for alleged sexual harassment.)
Three years ago today, Donald Trump made a campaign stop at his new Trump Hotel D.C. My report from that day, for Fox News: “Already a success? Trump uses official DC hotel opening to plug brand triumphs.”
Fact sheets
Each issue of 1100 Pennsylvania reports on new updates in the House investigations, lawsuits, and health inspections regarding the Trump Hotel D.C. For a rundown of the earlier developments in each one, as well as reference sheets for some of 1100 Pennsylvania’s previous reporting, please see these paid-subscriber-only fact sheets.
House investigations (latest change Sept. 12, 2019)
Lawsuits (latest change Sept. 13, 2019)
Breakdown of judges’ rulings by political party of presidents who nominated them in emoluments, unfair competition, and House committee investigations lawsuits (latest change Sept. 13, 2019)
Trump cabinet members spotted at the Trump Hotel D.C.: 25 of 32 (latest change Sept. 13, 2019)
U.S. Senators who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C. either by appearing there or by heading campaigns or committees that have spent money there : 26 of 53 Republicans, one Democrat (latest change Aug. 1, 2019)
House Oversight members who’ve supported the Trump Hotel D.C.: Six of 17 Republicans, no Democrats (latest change Sept. 3, 2019)
Health inspections (latest change June 14, 2019)
Rudy Giuliani at the Trump Hotel D.C: A retrospective (published April 30, 2019)
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