Donald Trump’s non-public company organized for the Secret Service to pay for rooms at his properties in extra of government-approved rates at least 40 instances throughout his presidency, together with two expenses for greater than $1,100 US per evening, in accordance with documents launched Monday by a congressional committee.
The Secret Service was charged room rates of greater than $800 US per evening at least 11 instances when brokers stayed at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, the Trump lodge in Washington, D.C., and different properties, the Democratic-led House Oversight Committee mentioned. It famous that Trump made greater than 500 journeys to his properties whereas president.
The “exorbitant” rates level to a doable “taxpayer-funded windfall for former President Trump’s struggling companies,” wrote N.Y. Rep. Carolyn Maloney in a letter Monday to the Secret Service requesting extra info.
The Secret Service mentioned it had obtained the letter and was reviewing it.
The Trump Organization denied that the Secret Service expenses had been an issue and mentioned it supplied rooms and different companies at price, at large reductions or free of charge.
“The Trump Family is probably going the primary household in American historical past to haven’t profited off of the United States authorities,” mentioned Eric Trump in an announcement. He added, “President Trump funded the overwhelming majority of his marketing campaign with a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} of his personal cash and turned away billions of {dollars} in actual property offers worldwide.”
In whole, the Trump Organization charged the company accountable for defending the president and his household at least $1.4 million US, in accordance with Secret Service data launched by the committee.
It mentioned the whole bill was doubtless greater as a result of the panel solely acquired data by means of September 2021 and funds for journeys overseas weren’t included.
The former president has been repeatedly criticized by Democrats and authorities watchdogs for what they are saying had been brazen makes an attempt to make cash from taxpayers throughout his presidency.
Among the documents launched Monday was a bill tied to a 2017 journey by Trump’s oldest son, Don Jr., to the Trump International Hotel down the road from the White House.
That resulted in a Secret Service room cost of $1,185 US per evening, greater than 5 instances the government-approved per diem price, the committee mentioned, although the company is allowed to make exceptions.