Coming at you live from House subcommittee hearing on the federal lease for Trump’s DC hotel. GSA has refused to hand over key documents to House Dems and would have to oversee Trumps sale of the lease. Let’s see if there’s any movement today.
Rep Titus starts off by say GSA chief Emily Murphy is in a "difficult position" given that Trump is her boss and also the majority owner. If Trump tries to sell the hotel lease, Murphy and her team will be charged with reviewing and either approving or disapproving any deal.
Rep Greg Pence wondering why the focus of the hearing is the president's hotel when there are other important issues to consider. His campaign has spent thousands of dollars at the hotel raising campaign funds.
The committee has subpoenaed the GSA for docs related to the hotel, and the GSA has offered members the chance to look at them but not have copies. Pence says that shows this is "not a legitimate exercise" of the committee and rather an attempt to hurt the president.
GSA will also not release its legal analysis for ruling that the lease is in compliance.
GSA chief Murphy says GSA cannot release the Trump hotel financial docs without violating the lease. GSA can however share that info with members behind closed doors. She says legal memos protected under attorney client privilege and because they are "deliberative."
Titus now citing this story washingtonpost.com/business/2020/…
Key exchange:
Titus: Could a foreign government buy the lease?
Murphy: Without knowing specifics, "I don't want to make a judgement on that."
So GSA won't rule out Trump selling hotel lease to foreign government.
Titus: Could a foreign government buy the lease?
Murphy: Without knowing specifics, "I don't want to make a judgement on that."
So GSA won't rule out Trump selling hotel lease to foreign government.
Murphy she is unaware of any current outleases to foreign govs at the moment.
Pence: What would be the harm in releasing the hotel financial docs?
Murphy: If our tenants and contractors see we are not good as our word, "they are not going to want to do business with us in the future."
Murphy: If our tenants and contractors see we are not good as our word, "they are not going to want to do business with us in the future."
This is uncharted territory in so many ways. GSA leases fed property to private entities in some 600 places but many are for parking spaces or cell antennas.
Titus: How much will taxpayers get if Trump sells hotel?
Murphy: Taxpayers get a cut, but I don't know specifics.
GSA has also redacted this potion of the lease in copies made public.
Murphy: Taxpayers get a cut, but I don't know specifics.
GSA has also redacted this potion of the lease in copies made public.
Del. Norton says if the Trumps aren't making money on the project then taxpayers are being shorted too -- since there is a revenue sharing agreement.
Murphy: If there is an interested buyer, we will look at that buyer's capabilities.
Murphy: If there is an interested buyer, we will look at that buyer's capabilities.
Murphy says she has not asked Trump Org for info about business the hotel has done with foreign governments.
"The only thing I know is what I've read in the paper."
"The only thing I know is what I've read in the paper."
