December 14, 2016

GSA releases statement on Old Post Office lease

WASHINGTON -- Today the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) released the following statement on the Old Post Office building lease: 

"GSA does not have a position that the lease provision requires the President-elect to divest of his financial interests. 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. 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. GSA is committed to responsibly administering all of the leases to which it is a party."

The full language of section 37.19 is below:

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; provided, however, that this provision shall not be construed as extending to any Person who may be a shareholder or other beneficial owner of any publicly held corporation or other entity, if this Lease is for the general benefit of such corporation or other entity.

Additional Resources

  • The solicitation is available here.
  • The selection announcement is available here.
  • The full Old Post Office lease is available here.

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December 14, 2016

American Bridge Statement on GSA Announcement on Trump’s DC Hotel Violation

American Bridge President Jessica Mackler issued the following statement on the GSA’s announcement of Trump's DC hotel lease violation:

“It's incomprehensible that Donald Trump continues to choose to violate the Constitution and profit off the presidency. Unless Trump sells his ownership of his D.C. hotel to someone outside his family, he will control the federal agency that he's directly negotiating with on his lease and rent.

“Selling his business stake to his children won't eliminate any conflicts of interest -- if anything, we know that Trump prefers using shady and secretive methods to hide his assets. Nothing is stopping Trump from secretly abusing the presidency since he refuses to release his tax returns.

“Every day, we get more proof that Donald Trump only cares about making money at the expense of the American people. Today's news about his federal lease is only one of hundreds of potential pressure points Trump holds over federal agencies he is in direct business negotiations with. Trump must sell his stake to eliminate all of these conflicts of interest before he is inaugurated.”
 
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