President-elect Donald Trump's recently-opened Washington, D.C. hotel could potentially land him in hot water if he doesn't cut ties with it ahead of his inauguration next month, according to a group of four House Democrats who consider it to be a significant conflict of interest.
In a letter to the General Services Administration Wednesday, Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, Indiana Rep. Andre Carson, Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly and Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio asked the independent agency what action it plans to take in the event that Trump breaches his agreement with the GSA by failing to "fully divest himself of all financial interests in the lease" for the Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C.
The House members say they were briefed on the matter by the GSA deputy commissioner last week and informed that Trump would be in breach of the lease agreement as soon as he's sworn into office on Jan. 20, 2017.
The lease agreement states that "no member or delegate to Congress, or elected official of the Government of the United States or the Government of the District of Columbia, shall be admitted to any share or part of this Lease, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom."
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A speedy response from the GSA indicates that the agency isn't compelled to take a stance or any action until Trump assumes office.
"We can make no definitive statement at this time about what would constitute a breach of the agreement, and to do so now would be premature," the GSA stated via USA Today. "In fact, no determination regarding the Old Post Office can be completed until the full circumstances surrounding the President-elect's business arrangements have been finalized and he has assumed office."
In a statement responding to the GSA's stance, Cummings said he and his fellow Democrats understand the breach is "officially viewed as a 'hypothetical' issue" until his inauguration.
"We also share GSA's hope that the agency will not have to address this issue if President-elect Trump divests his ownership in the lease before then," added Cummings via USA Today. "But the simple fact is that GSA informed our staffs that they interpret this lease provision as prohibiting any elected official from having any ownership interest in the lease, and we stand 100 percent behind our letter."
In a series of tweets posted Tuesday, Trump said that he would leave his businesses before Jan. 20 and plans to hold a press conference to discuss his businesses in the "near future."
The new Trump hotel in Washington, D.C. is located less than one mile from the White House. So far, the property has been clouded in controversy. It's been vandalized and the Mayor of Washington, D.C. declined to attend the grand opening.
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