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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTRUMP HOTEL RATES SPIKED 13X LAST WEEKEND. WE FINALLY KNOW WHY.
https://www.citizensforethics.org/trump-hotel-rates-spiked-13x-last-weekend/By Linnaea Honl-Stuenkel and Lauren White, December 18, 2019
In November, we noticed a mysterious spike in the price of available rooms at Trumps DC hotel for a Saturday night in December. The minimum cost was 13 times the average, but we couldnt identify a reason for the spike, until photos surfaced of the Trump Victory Committees winter retreat at Trumps Hotel on that exact night, which appears to have sold out much of the venue. While the least expensive room for a one-night stay at the hotel was around $500 on surrounding days, the cheapest room on December 14 was a whopping $6,719. With access to Trump, Pence, and other top officials, and a bonus invitation to the White House holiday party for donors, we no longer have to wonder why.
On November 7th, CREW flagged a massive spike in the cost of a room on December 14, suggesting that every less expensive room in the hotel was sold out, leaving only pricey suites. Presumably, rooms were taken up by donors to Trump Victory Committee, a joint fundraising committee of the Republican National Committee and the Trump campaign. The exorbitant cost is even more evidence that hosting fundraisers at the Trump International Hotel is one of the best ways to sell out the notoriously empty venue, sending donor money right into Trumps pocket.
Lucky donors who managed to snag a room were also invited to the White Houses holiday open house, meaning that the cost of a room at Trumps DC Hotel and donations towards his reelection included exclusive political access for the buyer.
For those seeking access to the president and top members of his Cabinet, the Trump Victory Committee fundraiser did not disappoint. According to 1100 Pennsylvania, President Trump, Vice President Pence and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt were scheduled to attend Trump Victorys retreat. Vice President Pence, who is one of the most frequent visitors to Trump properties, was a special guest for lunch. Pences lunch alone appears to have attracted 650 guests, according to a social media post that appears to have been from the event, well over the Trump Hotels 263 rooms. Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, who is one of the top visitors to Trump properties among executive branch officials, also participated in a Women for Trump Panel. Finally, Trump and Secretary Bernhardt were slated to be special guests at the Jingle and Mingle Cocktail Reception and Winter Retreat Gala.
Amyishere
(69 posts)Also, maybe that's how the prostitutes being trafficked were probably paid for.
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)Can the next President just cut out the middleman and set up an LLC to send the cash to?
brooklynite
(94,713 posts)TheRealNorth
(9,500 posts)It won't be like the money made from the increased rates will be going into the pocket of the Democratic candidate.
Farmer-Rick
(10,202 posts)Because they don't own the hotels unlike the Dumpy Trumpy. Who makes money everytime he forces someone to stay in his overpriced hotels and golf dumps.
marble falls
(57,172 posts)mountain grammy
(26,644 posts)marble falls
(57,172 posts)homegirl
(1,433 posts)charge Trump for use of the White House for fundraising events associated with his campaign?
Perseus
(4,341 posts)When is this going to end? The corruption from the elite is what has corrupted our politics, a good time to bring the quote Rachel had on her show "Politics do not corrupt, people corrupt politics" (Hope I got it right).
TheRealNorth
(9,500 posts)What's a few thousand dollars when they saved a million in taxes.
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)attendees were Russian? Saudi? This is a clear violation of the emoluments clause. Do any of the gop members even care? Now they just throw broken rules in our faces.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)In the end, it is free money to the Republicans, via political PACs and fund raisers, free money to trump.
The donors get ripped off, but for big donations there are perks.
Farmer-Rick
(10,202 posts)Even the Gates made a tidy multi million dollar contract off our federal government thanks to the monster.
calimary
(81,441 posts)flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)Even sleazebags who support this grifting douchebag have to KNOW that everything they say and do is being recorded at a Dump property. Everyone's cool with that I take it?
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)tblue37
(65,483 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,887 posts)He is trying to sell the business.
That will go toward bragging rights for income performance.
Without being specified as a singular event.
iluvtennis
(19,868 posts)ArcticFox
(1,249 posts)So as to keep them both from being eliminated in a single attack. This seems pretty crazy, from a security perspective, to have them both at the same publicized event.