Democrats demand U.S. agencies reveal how much they spend at Trump businesses
The Democrats serving on the House Oversight Committee launched an investigation Tuesday into federal tax dollars being spent at Donald Trumps businesses.
The 18 lawmakers, led by Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, sent letters to Cabinet secretaries and agency leaders requesting documents and asking how much their departments are spending on products or services provided by businesses owned by or affiliated with the Trump Organization. The responses are due Aug. 25.
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The lawmakers cite a litany of possible examples reported by various news organizations since the businessman became president nearly seven months ago:
The Department of Defense is renting space at Trump Tower, the Manhattan skyscraper that housed Trumps business offices, his reality TV show and his presidential campaign.
Trump earns federal housing assistance money because of his partial ownership of Starrett City Associates, L.P., what has been called the nations largest federally subsidized residential property.
The State Department paid $9,510 for rooms to house the Secret Service when Trumps son, Eric, visited Uruguay in January to promote a hotel and condo.
The State Department spent more than $15,000 on 19 rooms at a hotel in Vancouver, Canada, when Trumps family headlined a grand opening celebration in February.
Trump has visited Mar-a-Lago on 25 days and his golf clubs on 48 days, sometimes more than once a day, according to a compilation of information released by the White House. He embarked on a 17-day vacation at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey Friday. Each trip costs taxpayers money, possibly millions of dollars.
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