New Senate GOP coronavirus bill includes unrelated White House demand for FBI headquarters money
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/27
$1.75 billion provision is not connected to the pandemic response but reflects Trumps ongoing interest in a new downtown FBI building.
July 27, 2020 at 6:52 p.m. CDT
Under intense White House pressure, Senate Republicans agreed Monday to allocate $1.75 billion in their coronavirus relief bill toward the construction of a new D.C. headquarters for the FBI.
But top Senate Republicans immediately began distancing themselves from the provision after it was made public, saying they werent sure why the White House repeatedly insisted on putting it in the bill.
In calling for a new Washington, DC headquarters facility, the provision reflects President Trumps ongoing interest in building a new headquarters for the FBI downtown, rather than a secure campus in the suburbs that was envisioned before he took office.
At a news conference Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) initially denied that the FBI money was in the bill, but then was notified by reporters that the language was in fact included.
Youll have to ask them why they insisted that be included, he told reporters, referring to the White House...................................................
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/27/fbi-building-coronavirus-stimulus-congress/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social
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President Trump arrives for an event about Operation Legend: Combating Violent Crime in American Cities in the White House last week. Trump has repeatedly pushed to build a new FBI headquarters downtown. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
riversedge
(70,330 posts).........................Democrats were sharply critical of the White Houses demand. They managed to have enough money for $2 billion for the FBI headquarters that benefits Trump hotel and they say they have no money for food assistance, said Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.). What the heck is going on?
When the White House first proposed inserting money on the FBI building in the legislation and conditioning it on keeping the headquarters in Washington, Republican lawmakers blocked it from being in the bill, people familiar with the discussions said. But White House officials persisted in demanding the money and it ended up back in the legislation.
As President Trump has said, the FBI desperately needs a new building and this measure provides critical funding for this project that would keep the building responsibly near the Department of Justice, White House spokesman Judd Deere said.
babylonsister
(171,099 posts)November 2, 2018 / 1:37 PM / 2 years ago
Democrats seek answers on Trump's role in U.S. FBI headquarters project
Mark Hosenball
snip//
The FBIs decaying, 1970s-built home in the J. Edgar Hoover Building is one block from the Trump International Hotel.
In their letter, the lawmakers reiterated concerns with President (Donald) Trumps direct involvement in the administrations abrupt decision to reverse longstanding plans to relocate the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters.
They said the administrations support for keeping the FBI where it is on prime commercial land, would block potential competitors from developing the existing property on Pennsylvania Avenue across the street from the Trump Hotel.
more...
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-fbi-headquarters/democrats-seek-answers-on-trumps-role-in-fbi-headquarters-project-idUSKCN1N725S
Lasher
(27,641 posts)Corruption, thy name is Trump.
cstanleytech
(26,332 posts)LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,600 posts)jpak
(41,760 posts)And Trump will let him do it
Yup
Bayard
(22,172 posts)If it doesn't deal directly with the pandemic, then NO. $2B would pay a lot of rent and buy a lot of groceries.
Besides, he's just going to insist they name the building after him. The only saving grace is that it probably wouldn't even get started by the time he's booted out.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,274 posts)machoneman
(4,012 posts)also visit our FBI folks and may stay at Trumpenstein's House of Horrors too.