House Democrats sue Trump Administration to get D.C. hotel records
Democrats on the House Oversight
Committee say they're suing the Trump Administration for withholding documents
about Trump's luxury hotel in Washington, D.C.
President Trump's administration
being taken to court over his business interests again.
It's the fifth legal claim
targeting the president's businesses.
The lawmakers allege the
administration won't give them information about the hotel's finances. They're
also seeking material that could shed light on whether Trump is engaging in any
self-dealing.
The Democrats say that lack of
transparency hinders the committee from holding the president accountable for
possible conflicts of interest.
"This hotel is not just a
building with Donald Trump's name on it," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, the
committee's top Democrat. "It is a glaring symbol of the Trump
Administration's lack of accountability, and a daily reminder of the refusal by
Republicans in Congress to do their job."
Republicans on the committee
declined to comment about the lawsuit Thursday. The Trump Organization did not
immediately respond to a request for comment.
The General Services
Administration -- the federal agency that oversees the lease -- said it does
not comment on pending litigation.
The Trump International Hotel has
for months been seen by his critics as a symbol of corruption.
The hotel rents space in a
historic post office three blocks from the White House. Trump signed the lease
with the federal government two years before he began his presidential
campaign.
Since his inauguration, Trump has
effectively been landlord and tenant at the same time. A clause appears to
prohibit an elected official from being party to the lease.
The controversial contract has
spurred outrage from Democrats since Trump was elected a year ago. Between
January and March, House Oversight Committee Democrats requested details on how
the agency was handling the apparent breach.
The General Services
Administration at first declined to provide specific answers. Then in late
March it said Trump's company was in "full compliance" with the
lease.
Shortly after that decision, the
agency's acting directors said they would reject any requests from oversight
committee members unless they were backed by the chairman, a Republican.
Without Republican support, the
Democrats resorted to an
obscure federal law called the Seven Member Rule.
They say the provision requires
executive branch agencies to provide any information requested by at least seven
members of the Oversight Committee.
The Democrats are now hoping the
court agrees with them.
It's the latest suit to be filed
against Trump because of his vast business interests.
Nearly 200 Democratic
lawmakers sued
the president earlier this year, claiming he violated the Constitution by
accepting foreign payments through his empire of hotels, golf courses,
trademarks and other properties, all without the consent of Congress.
Others have filed similar suits
related to that clause. One of those cases comes from the state of Maryland and
the District of Columbia. Another is from a watchdog group of ethics experts
based in D.C.
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