House Democrats Claim Trump Exploited Secret Service, Overcharged by 6 Times
A recent report by the Democratic-led House Oversight Committee has accused former US President Donald Trump of exploiting the US Secret Service for personal financial gain during his time in office. The report claims that Trump’s hotels overcharged the government agency for accommodation, with room rates exceeding the standard government-approved rates.
According to documents obtained by the committee from Trump’s accounting firm, Mazars, the Secret Service was billed $1,185 per night at Trump’s hotel in Washington, D.C., during a stay in November 2017, far surpassing the approved $201 per diem rate. This prompted Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin, chair of the committee, to call for legal safeguards to prevent similar financial abuses in the future. “We must act now to stop the kind of self-serving corruption that goes against the very principles our Founding Fathers stood for,” Raskin stated.
The committee’s investigation has focused on allegations of financial impropriety within Trump’s business dealings, particularly regarding the overcharging of federal agencies. The findings are based on guest logs from Trump International Hotel, which revealed that the Secret Service was charged more than other guests, including foreign governments and corporations. The report suggests this may have resulted in unconstitutional and ethically questionable payments accepted by Trump while in office.
Raskin also highlighted that these findings were just part of a broader web of financial entanglements, involving over 500 corporations and entities tied to Trump. Earlier this year, another report claimed that Trump earned $7.8 million from foreign countries, including China, through his various business ventures while serving as president.
In response to the allegations, a Republican spokesperson dismissed the report, calling it “recycled garbage” and accusing Democrats of harboring an obsession with Trump. They argued that unlike the Bidens, the Trump family made legitimate income through their businesses.
The committee’s investigation aims to enforce constitutional provisions against conflicts of interest and financial misconduct by public officials, with Raskin pledging to work with fellow Democrats on new legislation to address these issues. He also expressed hope that Republican lawmakers would support the effort to establish stricter regulations to prevent future abuses of power.
