Letter to Hon. Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State - Warren Raises Questions about Vice President Pence's Stay at Trump International Property in Doonbeg, Ireland, at the "Suggestion" of the President
Letter
I am writing to request information regarding recent reports that Vice President Mike
Pence patronized President Donald Trump's Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg
while in Ireland - at the "suggestion" of the President. This transaction - another example of
what appears to be open corruption in this administration - deepens my concerns about the
ongoing ethics issues related to the President's continued financial relationship with the Trump
Organization and the abuse of taxpayer funds to enrich the President and his family through their
business interests.
During his two-day visit in Ireland earlier this week, Vice President Pence stayed at the
Trump International Hotel in Doonbeg and "[flew] the hour-or-so into Dublin [on the other side
of Ireland] for official meetings," rather than staying at a hotel in Dublin a short drive away.
The Vice President's chief of staff indicated that the President encouraged the Vice President to
stay at his hotel, telling him, "[Y]ou should stay at my place." The Vice President's decision to
trek across country is "clearly not convenient. It' s clearly not efficient. There's really no
explanation besides promoting the President. "
This is only the latest instance in which government officials, companies or special
interest groups have patronized the President's hotels - enriching the President and his family -
in numerous cases, with taxpayer funds. Just two months ago, Attorney General William Barr
"booked President Trump's D.C. hotel for a 200 person holiday party in December that is likely to deliver Trump's business more than $30,000 in revenue." Last year, T-Mobile executives
started to patronize President Trump's hotel in Washington, D.C. immediately after announcing
a proposed merger with Sprint, raising questions about whether the company was attempting to
curry favor with the Administration through the Trump Organization. When the President
travelled to Scotland last year - he stayed at one of his luxury golf resorts, made no public
appearances, played golf, and cost the American taxpayers over $68,000. In fact, a review
published by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington identified at least 350 trips
the President has taken to his own properties -costing taxpayers an estimated $105 million.
These expenditure are deeply troubling because President Trump has refused to fully
divest from his interests in the Trump Organization. The revocable trust the President
established can "'distribute net income or principal to Donald J. Trump at his request' or
whenever his son and longtime attorney 'deem appropriate.' That can include everything from
profits to the underlying assets," which means that the taxpayer money spent by Vice President
Pence and his staff ultimately end up in the pockets of the President.
The recent reports surrounding Vice President Pence's decision to patronize the Trump
International Hotel in Doonbeg, Ireland - and the extent to which the President could potentially
benefit financially from the taxpayer expenditures on this visit - are disturbing. I have introduced
legislation, the Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act, which would require the President and
Vice President to place conflicted assets, including businesses, into a blind trust to be sold off. I
intend to keep working to make that plan law. In the meantime, to address these concerns, I ask
that you provide answers to the following questions by September 18, 2019.
1. What was the total travel cost associated with the Vice President's trip to Doonbeg,
Ireland? Specifically, what was the excess cost associated with the Vice President
staying at Doonbeg rather than in Dublin?
2. Which State Department officials were responsible for approving lodging and travel
plans for the Vice President and his team in Ireland? Did State Department or White
House ethics officials review these plans?
3. According to the Vice President's chief of staff, President Trump made a
"suggestion" to the Vice President that he should stay at the Trump International
Hotel in Doonbeg while in Ireland.
a. Was the State Department aware of this "suggestion" when planning the Vice
President's travels?
b. Did this "suggestion" factor into the decision making process for where the
Vice President and his team would stay while in Ireland?
4. Please provide copies of all email or other communication between State Department
officials and the Office of the Vice President or any other White House official
related to the planning of the Vice President's and his teams stay in Doonbeg, Ireland
Source