The General Services Administration on Wednesday rejected a claim made by four House Democrats that the independent agency believes that President-elect Trump is legally required to divest in his stake of the Trump International Hotel in Washington before he takes office.
In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, GSA said it does “not have a position” on that question, and said it would not have one until Trump announces his future business arrangements. Trump was set to hold a press conference Thursday to reveal how he is exiting his businesses, but postponed it until January.
“GSA does not have a position that the lease provision requires the President-elect to divest his financial interests,” a spokesperson said. “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.”
Trump’s hotel is at the Old Post Office in Washington, a space his company is leasing.
“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,” the spokesperson continued. “GSA is committed to responsibly administering all of the leases to which it is a party.”
The letter from the group of Democrats, which was sent to Denise Roth, an administrator at GSA, said GSA had told them that Trump has to abandon the property before he takes office.
“[T]he Deputy Commissioner informed our staff that GSA assesses that Mr. Trump will be in breach of the lease agreement the moment he takes office on January 20, 2017, unless he fully divests himself of all financial interests in the lease for the Washington D.C. hotel,” Democrats wrote. “The Deputy Commissioner made clear that Mr. Trump must divest himself not only of managerial control, but of all ownership interest as well.”
Trump announced on Monday that he will postpone the planned news conference about his business arrangements until January because he is still dealing with filling out his cabinet and making picks to fill out his administration. In a tweet, he announced his intention to turn the business over to Donald, Jr., and Eric Trump, adding that the business will make “no new deals” during the course of his presidency.
