Trump Organization charged Secret Service up to $1,185 per night

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A report released on Monday by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform revealed that Trump properties charged the Secret Service as much as $1,185 a night, more than five times the recommended government rate, and the excessive costs continued after he left office.

The Secret Service acquired at least 40 waivers from January 2017 to September 15, 2021, allowing it to pay more than the recommended per diem rates to stay at Trump properties to safeguard Trump as a president and former president, as well as individuals surrounding him, according to the report.

For agents guarding Eric Trump, the Secret Service was charged $1,160 for a stay at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC, according to one ledger obtained by the Oversight Committee and released in the report on March 8, 2017. The government rate for DC on that night was $242. On Nov. 8, 2017, another ledger shows that the Secret Service was charged $1,185 to lodge agents protecting Donald Trump Jr., while the government rate was $201.

In a statement on behalf of the Trump Organization, Eric Trump said, "Any services rendered to the United States Secret Service or other government agencies at Trump-owned properties were at their request and were either provided at cost, heavily discounted or for free. The company would have been substantially better off if hospitality services were sold to full-paying guests, however, the company did whatever it took to accommodate the agencies to ensure they were able to do their jobs at the highest levels — they are amazing men and women.”

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The Secret Service said it would respond to the findings of the investigation in direct communication with the Committee. “The US Secret Service has received a letter from the House Oversight Committee requesting information about protection-related hotel charges, and the agency will respond directly to the committee with the requested information,” said Secret Service Spokesperson Steve Kopek. 

According to numbers first reported by The Washington Post, Trump Organization hotels charged the Secret Service more than $1.4 million for officers' accommodations while traveling to protect former President Trump. However, it is known that a single night's stay could cost the government agency $1,185. 

Chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee, Carolyn Maloney, detailed the new findings in a letter to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle on Monday, noting that then-President Trump stated that federal employees traveling with him would be able to stay in his company's properties for free or at a reduced rate.

“The exorbitant rates charged to the Secret Service and agents’ frequent stays at Trump-owned properties raise significant concerns about the former President’s self-dealing and may have resulted in a taxpayer-funded windfall for former President Trump’s struggling businesses,” Maloney said.

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Trump visited his properties 547 times during his administration, including 145 visits to his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida, according to the inquiry, which cited research by Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington. Agents were required to remain on Trump Organization properties to safeguard the President and other dignitaries and foreign leaders.

According to the Committee, the per diem for Secret Service is normally based on a formula that takes into consideration the season and location, and larger prices are generally investigated by the agency. “The Secret Service received authorization for additional flexibility for expenses during protective missions, including per diem expenses above the government rate,” Maloney said in her letter to the Secret Service.

Maloney stated that the Committee is still seeking a comprehensive accounting of Secret Service spending at Trump Organization buildings and that the total could be higher than the $1.4 million originally reported.