The @USGSA Inspector General just put out a report on what may be one of Trump's most blatantly corrupt actions in office.
That investigation, into why the Administration scuttled plans for a new FBI headquarters, also revealed what looks like a cover-up by the White House. 1/
That investigation, into why the Administration scuttled plans for a new FBI headquarters, also revealed what looks like a cover-up by the White House. 1/
Background: for over a decade officials have warned that the FBI headquarters was structurally deficient.
The effort to move the FBI to a new building has taken years, thousands of staff hours, and millions of taxpayer dollars. It was nearly there. 2/ washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp…
The effort to move the FBI to a new building has taken years, thousands of staff hours, and millions of taxpayer dollars. It was nearly there. 2/ washingtonpost.com/news/digger/wp…
Then, last year, the Trump Administration suddenly and inexplicably threw all of that work out the window, and cancelled the plans.
At the time, they offered no alternate proposal, but said one would follow. 3/ washingtonpost.com/business/econo…
At the time, they offered no alternate proposal, but said one would follow. 3/ washingtonpost.com/business/econo…
Then the Trump Administration announced that the FBI would be staying in the same location, which would be rebuilt.
They said this would save costs, though studies commissioned by Congress had shown this would cost more than moving the FBI to a new HQ. 4/
washingtonpost.com/news/business/…
They said this would save costs, though studies commissioned by Congress had shown this would cost more than moving the FBI to a new HQ. 4/
washingtonpost.com/news/business/…
This seemed mysterious. Observers noted that Trump himself had a significant financial stake because his own real estate project, the Trump International Hotel, was located across the street from the current FBI headquarters.
His bottom line would be affected by the decision. 5/
His bottom line would be affected by the decision. 5/
The agency responsible for this planning is @USGSA, which is both the landlord for the Trump International Hotel and run by a Trump appointee.
In April, @RepMikeQuigley asked the head of GSA whether the White House was involved in the FBI HQ decision: 6/ urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https…
In April, @RepMikeQuigley asked the head of GSA whether the White House was involved in the FBI HQ decision: 6/ urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https…
She dodged the question several times.
Even those evasions pale in comparison to the outright refusals to answer which GSA officials gave @ChrisVanHollen in a Senate hearing on the matter. Watch this to the end: 7/
Even those evasions pale in comparison to the outright refusals to answer which GSA officials gave @ChrisVanHollen in a Senate hearing on the matter. Watch this to the end: 7/
It was extremely suspicious that these officials would simply refuse to answer questions about whether the President was involved in this decision. So @GerryConnolly asked the GSA's Inspector General to investigate.
You can read the IG's report here: 8/
connolly.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
You can read the IG's report here: 8/
connolly.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
The Inspector General's investigation found that Administration officials gave "misleading impressions" in their testimony to Congress, a polite way for saying the lied or withheld key information.
The truth, it turns out, was that Trump had been personally involved. 9/
The truth, it turns out, was that Trump had been personally involved. 9/
Trump was part of two meetings with DOJ, GSA, and FBI officials on the FBI headquarters which took place in the White House, in January and June of 2018.
The January meeting produced the plan which Administration officials settled on, to keep the FBI at its current location. 10/
The January meeting produced the plan which Administration officials settled on, to keep the FBI at its current location. 10/
The President took part in a discussion to decide whether the block where his flagship property is located would become the home of a new FBI headquarters, or become a vacant property that could be developed into a competing hotel.
What did he say? 11/
What did he say? 11/
We don't know what Trump said.
That's because when investigators asked, the White House Counsel ordered public servants "not to disclose any statements made by the President" regarding the outcome of a ***multi-billion dollar federal procurement that affected his business*** 12/
That's because when investigators asked, the White House Counsel ordered public servants "not to disclose any statements made by the President" regarding the outcome of a ***multi-billion dollar federal procurement that affected his business*** 12/
This is ridiculously suspicious. At every turn, the Administration acted like there is something big to hide.
The IG report revealed what looks like a cover-up. And we know that all of this connects directly to Trump's business conflicts of interest. 13/
The IG report revealed what looks like a cover-up. And we know that all of this connects directly to Trump's business conflicts of interest. 13/
The IG report also found that GSA excluded key cost considerations in its projections to Congress on the cost of the plan developed by the Trump Administration.
So the when the Administration said its new plan would cost less, that wasn't true. It will cost more.. 14/
So the when the Administration said its new plan would cost less, that wasn't true. It will cost more.. 14/
If you read this far, it's obvious what has to happen next.
1) We need to return to the original, carefully developed plan for the FBI headquarters. Trump likes to meddle with the FBI, but that doesn't mean we have to let him get way with it. 15/
1) We need to return to the original, carefully developed plan for the FBI headquarters. Trump likes to meddle with the FBI, but that doesn't mean we have to let him get way with it. 15/
2) Congress must launch a full investigation to find out what the President said and what he did.
We must have a Congress that is willing to make sure the President is putting the public interest before his own financial interests. The American people deserve nothing less. 16/16
We must have a Congress that is willing to make sure the President is putting the public interest before his own financial interests. The American people deserve nothing less. 16/16
