SEC chair posed with financial-services lobbyist at Trump Bedminster
Trump transition staffer turned lobbyist claimed to enjoy the ‘best fellowship’ with Jay Clayton at Trump Bedminster; SEC spox says it was just a quick photo op
Nick Owens, a financial-services lobbyist enjoyed the “best fellowship” with President Trump’s Securities and Exchange Commission chair, Jay Clayton, at Trump Bedminster, according to a photo Owens shared on Instagram.
Yet an SEC spokesperson said Clayton didn’t know Owens, a Trump transition team member dedicated to economic and business issues, before that encounter and that the two just chatted briefly while the picture was being taken.
Owens posted the photo to his private Instagram account over the weekend, a screenshot of which was provided to 1100 Pennsylvania. Owens identified “Bedminster” as the spot of his meeting with Clayton in the caption.
An SEC spokesperson confirmed Trump Bedminster as the location.
“The Chairman is not a member of the club he was invited to play there,” wrote an SEC spokesperson in response to an inquiry from 1100 Pennsylvania. “He didn’t know this gentleman beforehand and just took a picture with him. Wasn’t aware until you brought it up that he was a lobbyist as they didn’t speak much apart from taking the picture.”
The spokesperson later elaborated that Clayton’s invite to golf at the club came from President Trump, who was at Trump Bedminster July 5–7.
The White House did not reply to an inquiry asking if the president interacted Owens and, if so, what they discussed.
And while no information surfaced online showing Clayton and Owens had a relationship prior to the photo, Owens did attend the 2017 wedding of Clayton’s assistant, according to Politico Playbook (Clayton was not there, per his spokesperson):
Additionally, Trump nominated Clayton to be the SEC chair on January 20, 2017, per his SEC bio. As Trump gave Clayton the nod on inauguration day, it seems like a decision that an “economic – business issues advisor” on the Trump transition team—Owens’s role per his LinkedIn profile—might have had a hand in.
Presented with this additional info, the SEC spokesperson reiterated that Clayton did not know Owens prior to this photo.
Owens did not reply to inquiries asking how the encounter came about, if he is a member of the president’s club, and if he discussed any of his clients with Clayton. But Owens is a regular at Trump properties: he was spotted at Sterling while Trump was there in June (per Politico), dined at Mar-a-Lago with the president in attendance in February (also per Politico), and was spotted by 1100 Pennsylvania at the Trump Hotel D.C. in March.
Currently Owens is the CEO of lobbying firm Magnolia Partners. As for how he describes his responsibilities, “Whether you are addressing a regulatory reform initiative or enforcement action, resolving a government contract dispute, or seeking more effective positioning of your company in the federal marketplace, our team is prepared to help your team define and accomplish your goals.”
Paid subscription required to receive all new 1100 Pennsylvania issues effective July 22
Starting July 22, most new issues of 1100 Pennsylvania will be available only to paid subscribers. If you did not pay for a membership when you signed up, you received a separate email with information about subscribing earlier today. If you did pay for a membership, nothing changes and you’ll continue to receive every issue of 1100 Pennsylvania and have full access to the online archives.
To support ad-free, in-depth independent reporting on the conflicts at the Trump Hotel D.C. and President Trump’s other businesses, select this red button that conveniently says “Subscribe now” and choose either the $5/month or $50/year option. Thanks!
Unpaid subscribers will continue to receive about one free issue a week.
Trump Store no longer sells merchandise depicting the White House
Over the Fourth of July holiday, the president’s online store stopped selling merchandise that features his name and the White House. The move was expected, as the Trump Store announced in early April that it was discontinuing that collection. Yet items showing the White House remained available for another three months.
The Trump Store’s White House merchandise debuted in March 2019 and was first reported by 1100 Pennsylvania. At least two of the items, which also were available in the Trump Hotel D.C.’s gift shop, were not made in the United States.
The president’s business, however, continues to hawk plenty of products juxtaposing “Trump” and the American flag.
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.
Trump 2020 advisory board member and the managing director of commercial real-estate firm Ackman-Ziff, Jason Meister, thanked President Trump in person at the president’s Bedminster club.
Other guests at Trump Bedminster also got to dine with the U.S. president.
Trump campaign senior advisor Katrina Pierson and conservative columnist for The Hill Madison Gesiotto appeared to coordinate on location—the president’s hotel—but not outfits.
The Hill’s Buck Sexton and political consultant, Fox News pundit, and Trump campaign advisor Harlan Hill celebrated America’s independence from the British crown by spending a few more bucks at the U.S. president’s D.C. hotel.
“Eric Bolling from Fox News fame,” but currently of Blaze TV, was back at the Trump Hotel D.C.
Other Trump Organization news
“Cuomo signs a bill to allow Release of Trump’s state tax returns” by Jesse McKinley for The New York Times
“Federal grand jury probing GOP fundraiser Elliott Broidy” by Jim Mustian and Desmoind Butler for the Associated Press
Newly obtained documents show that then Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) had a previously undisclosed “overnight September stay at the Trump International Hotel to attend a secretive meeting at the White House” by Colin Woodard for The Portland Press Herald. A judge in the D.C. and Maryland attorneys general’s emoluments suit against Trump cited LePage’s hotel stays when denying the president’s motion to dismiss their suit.
“Trump again plans to hire dozens of foreign workers in Palm Beach County” by by Jeff Ostrowsk for The Palm Beach Post
In addition to Bedminster, Trump also visited his Sterling course last week.
“Clashes break out in front of Trump Hotel” by Darcy Spencer for NBC 4 Washington
House investigations (latest change, July 1, 2019)
Financial Services
The committee sent a inquiry to Deutsche Bank AG on its ties to Trump, according to the bank on Jan. 24. On March 1, Chair Rep. Maxine Waters (D–CA) said the bank is cooperating with her committee and that her staffers met with bank employees. On March 11, the committee requested documents on Trump’s businesses from Capital One; the bank said it was preserving documents but needed a subpoena to comply per Politico. On April 15, that subpoena was issued. The committee reportedly has subpoenaed nine banks for information about the president’s finances. President Trump, Don Jr., Eric, Ivanka, and their businesses sued Deutsche Bank and Capital One on April 30 to prevent them from sharing records with Congress. Deutsche Bank reportedly has been willing to cooperate with lawmakers. On May 3, the Trumps filed for a preliminary injunction to block the subpoenas. But the judge declined to issue that injunction on May 22, saying that the financial institutions can comply with the lawmakers’ request. The Trumps’ appealed that ruling on May 24. The lawmakers and Trumps agreed to refrain from enforcing the subpoenas until after the appellate court issued its ruling. The court announced it will expedite the briefing process, which will end on July 18, and hold a hearing held shortly thereafter.
Foreign Affairs
Chair 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.
Judiciary
On March 4, the committee “served document requests to 81 agencies, entities, and individuals believed to have information relevant to the investigation. Among the individuals the committee requested documents from are Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, Trump Org EVP and COO Michael Calamari, CFO Alan Weisselberg, EVP and chief legal officer Alan Garten, Trump tax attorney Sherri Dillon, longtime Trump executive assistant Rhona Graff, former Trump advisor Felix Sater (whom it interviewed on March 21), former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, and Trump associate and inaugural chair Tom Barrack. The committee received “tens of thousands” of documents by its March 18 deadline, according to its chair, Jerry Nadler (D–NY). Among the respondents: Barrack, Steve Bannon, and the National Rifle Association. But more than half of the targets still had not replied by April 3. On that day, the committee authorized subpoenas for former White House aides Bannon, Ann Donaldson, Hope Hicks, Donald McGahn, and Reince Priebus, per Politico. And on May 21, the committee did in fact subpoena Hicks and Donaldson. Attorneys for the Trump Organization, Don Jr., and Eric did not respond to Politico’s inquires if their clients planned to reply. The committee is considering making additional document requests, including to Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.
Intelligence
On Feb. 6, Chair Adam Schiff (D–CA) said his committee would investigate links or coordination between the Russian government/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. Schiff hired a prosecutor experienced in combating Russian organized crime to lead the investigation.
On Feb. 10, Schiff said the committee would investigate Trump’s relationship with Deutsche Bank, a major lender to the Trump Organization. On Jan. 24, the committee sent an inquiry to Deutsche Bank AG on its ties to Trump. On Feb. 28, an aide said the panel expects to interview Trump Org. CFO Allen Weisselberg.
During testimony on March 6, Michael Cohen turned over documents that allegedly show how Trump’s then-personal lawyer, Jay Sekulow, edited Cohen’s statement regarding Trump Tower Moscow. Cohen later read this revised statement before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. In closed-door testimony in March, Cohen claimed the president submitted a false insurance claim regarding a fresco in Trump Tower. Felix Sater, who was connected to the Trump Moscow project, was scheduled to testify in an open hearing on March 27, but that was postponed. Then he was scheduled to talk to the committee’s investigators on June 21, but did not show up. Georgian-American businessman Giorgi Rtskhiladze, however, did discuss his Trump Tower Moscow proposal with the committee on June 26.
The committee seeks to interview inauguration organizer Stephanie Winston Wolkoff.
On March 11, the committee requested documents on Trump’s businesses from Capital One; the bank “said it was already preserving documents but needs a subpoena in order to comply” per Politico. On April 15, that subpoena was issued. All told, the committee reportedly has subpoenaed nine banks for information about President Trump’s finances. President Trump, Don. Jr., Eric, Ivanka, and their businesses sued Deutsche Bank and Capital One on April 30, however, to prevent them from sharing financial records with Congress. Schiff said Deutsche Bank has been willing to cooperate with lawmakers. On May 3, the Trumps filed for a preliminary injunction to block the subpoenas. But judge Edgardo Ramos declined to issue that injunction on May 22, saying that the financial institutions can comply with the lawmakers’ request. The Trumps’ appealed that ruling on May 24. The lawmakers and Trumps agreed to refrain from enforcing the subpoenas until after the appellate court issues its ruling. The court announced it will expedite the briefing process, which will end on July 18, and hold a hearing held shortly thereafter.
Oversight and Reform
Chair Elijah Cummings’s (D–MD) staff “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,” 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 Passantino and Dillon; the White House, however, rejected Cummings’ request to interview Passantino. And on Feb. 27, Cohen testified to the committee about those payments and other Trump Organization business practices, which could lead to 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.
On March 6, Cummings requested information from GSA about its reversal of a decision to relocate FBI headquarters, which is across the street from the Trump Hotel D.C. On April 12 Cummings wrote to the GSA again, this time requesting all monthly reports from the hotel, information about liens on the hotel, correspondence between the Trump Org and GSA, and legal opinions regarding the Trump Org’s compliance with the lease. Cummings gave an April 26 deadline; GSA failed to meet it, citing confidentiality concerns. Cummings threatened to issue a subpoena.
The committee also has requested 10 years of Trump’s financial records. On March 11, the committee requested documents on Trump’s businesses from Capital One; the bank “said it was already preserving documents but needs a subpoena in order to comply” per Politico. On April 12, Cummings notified committee members that he plans to subpoena Mazars USA, Trump’s accounting firm, for his financial statements. President Trump, the Trump Organization, and the Trump Hotel D.C. sued Cummings and Mazars USA on April 22 in an attempt to prevent the release of Trump’s financial records. Cummings postponed the subpoenas’ deadline while the courts address the president’s suit. On May 20, U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta denied the president’s motion. Trump appealed the next day and two days after that, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals’ judges agreed to fast track the case, with oral arguments scheduled for July 12. But without further relief, Mazars could start turning over documents as soon as next week. In a filing on June 10, Trump’s attorneys argued that the committee’s subpoena was invalid because “it is an effort to investigate alleged legal violations—power that is vested in the executive, not Congress.”
Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
Transportation committee Chair 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 D.C. hotel calculates its profits, profit statements since the hotel opened, 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. Titus is hiring additional staffers to handle the investigation.
On March 6, Titus requested information from GSA about its reversal of a decision to relocate FBI headquarters, which is across the street from the Trump Hotel D.C. NPR reported “Democrats on the committee want to know, among other things, whether there was any political pressure exerted on the GSA by the Trump White House, presidential campaign or transition team. They also want to know how the Trump Hotel calculates its profits, segregates incoming money from foreign governments, and what the Trump Organization owes the GSA on a monthly or annual basis.’”
Ways and Means
On April 3, Chair Richard Neal (D–MA) requested six years of Trump’s personal tax returns and the returns for eight of his businesses (including that of the trust that holds the president’s stake in the D.C. hotel). After the IRS missed Neal’s deadline and then an extension, Treasury Sec. Steve Mnuchin said he’d make a decision whether or not to release the returns by May 6. He declined to do so. On May 10, the committee subpoenaed Mnuchin and IRS commissioner Charles Rettig, giving them a May 17 deadline to turn over Trump’s tax returns. Mnuchin again declined to comply. Neal suspected he’d know his next move by May 24, but earlier he had indicated he’ll take the issue to the federal courts. On July 3, the committee sued the IRS for the returns.
The Oversight subcommittee held a 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 John Lewis (D–GA). Tax law experts testified.
Lawsuits (latest change, June 26, 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. 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 occurred on March 19; by all accounts the three-judge panel (all Republican appointees, including one who was a selection of President Trump’s) were skeptical of the AGs’ case. D.C. AG Karl Racine pledged to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
Individual capacity—On Dec. 14, Trump’s personal attorneys appealed the denial of their motion to dismiss the case 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 dismissing the claims against him in his “individual capacity to allow the claims against President Trump in his official capacity to move forward expeditiously.” (The AGs brought suit against Trump in his individual capacity after the judge suggested they do so.) Trump’s attorneys, on Dec. 21, opposed the motion to dismiss at the district level, saying the appeals court now has jurisdiction and accused the AGs of “gamesmanship.”
Democratic senators, 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 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. On April 30, Sullivan denied Trump’s motion to dismiss the suit. While the president’s attorneys have a supplemental brief due on May 28, on May 14 they filed a motion to stay the proceedings while they appeal Sullivan’s decision. A week later, the lawmakers opposed that motion. On June 25, Sullivan denied Trump’s motion to stay the proceedings pending appeal, paving the way for discovery to begin June 28 and last through Sept. 27.
CREW et. al’s emoluments lawsuit
District court docket, appellate court docket
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 Oct. 30.
Cork’s unfair competition lawsuit
District court docket, appellate court docket
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. Cork filed its first appellant brief on May 15, arguing “the District Court failed to recognize the evolving nature of the common law of unfair competition in the District of Columbia and erroneously treated the prior cases as if they were a series of statutes that Appellant had to satisfy to state a claim.” Attorneys for the president and his hotel requested a 31-day extension for filing their brief, with Cork’s consent, which the court granted on May 28. Trump’s brief is now due on July 15.
Employees’ class-action suit alleging racial discrimination
D.C. superior court (direct link not available, search for case 2017 CA 006517 B)
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 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, June 14, 2019)
❌Hotel—five violations on May 7, 2018; two 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 May 16, 2019
✔️Pastry kitchen—one violations on May 16, 2019; it was corrected on site
✔️In-room dining—one violation on May 16, 2019; it was corrected on site
❌Northwest kitchen—three violations on May 16, 2019; two corrected on site
✔️Gift shop—no violations on May 7, 2018
✔️Employee cafeteria—no violations on May 16, 2019
Is the Trump Store selling swag that depicts the White House? (latest change, July 8, 2019)
No.
One thing that (probably) has nothing to do with Trump’s businesses
From “Mike Pence cancels a trip to New Hampshire, and a mystery ensues” by Maggie Haberman of The New York Times:
Multiple people familiar with what happened offered at least a partial explanation. They said it was related to the place Mr. Pence was scheduled to visit, the Granite Recovery Center, but they did not offer any details.
No clue if it’s related, but in a now-deleted interview, Granite Recover Center’s CEO Eric Spofford was critical of President Trump for calling New Hampshire “a drug-infested den”:
Thanks for reading! If you like what you saw, tell someone. If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, subscribe at zacheverson.substack.com. Questions? Read our FAQ/manifesto. Tips or feedback? Contact Zach Everson securely at 1100Pennsylvania@protonmail.com or via Signal/SMS/mobile at 202.804.2744.