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Old 09-07-2019, 08:36 AM
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Arrow Trump's Use of Pentagon Cash to Prop Up Scottish Resort Latest Example of Why He 'Mus

Trump's Use of Pentagon Cash to Prop Up Scottish Resort Latest Example of Why He 'Must Be Impeached': AOC
BY: Eoin Higgins - Common Dreams - 9-7-19
RE: https://www.commondreams.org/news/20...why-he-must-be

Being President Trump has determined this is a money making job.

"These reports raise questions about the President's potential receipt of U.S. or foreign government emoluments in violation of the U.S. Constitution and raise other serious conflict of interest concerns."

A Friday report from Politico detailing how the U.S. Air Force is diverting resources to prop up President Donald Trump's Turnberry resort in Scotland prompted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to call for impeachment.

"The President is corrupt and must be impeached," the New York Democrat tweeted Friday night in response to the story, which was broken by reporters Natasha Bertrand and Bryan Bender.

Politico details how the House Oversight Committee is investigating why a military flight to and from Kuwait stopped at the resort—and how that incident is part of a broader pattern of military spending in and around the Scottish resort.

The inquiry is part of a broader, previously unreported probe into U.S. military expenditures at and around the Trump property in Scotland. According to a letter the panel sent to the Pentagon in June, the military has spent $11 million on fuel at the Prestwick Airport—the closest airport to Trump Turnberry—since October 2017, fuel that would be cheaper if purchased at a U.S. military base. The letter also cites a Guardian report that the airport provided cut-rate rooms and free rounds of golf at Turnberry for U.S. military members.

Taken together, the incidents raise the possibility that the military has helped keep Trump’s Turnberry resort afloat—the property lost $4.5 million in 2017, but revenue went up $3 million in 2018.

Prestwick Airport has seen its own financial troubles as well and the Scottish government, which bought the airport in 2013, has expressed interest in selling it. The six-figure refueling stops from the U.S. military, however, are sure to raise questions, especially given the president's 2014 comments that he would ensure Prestwick was "really successful" after selecting the airport as the hub for Turnberry.

In a letter from June requesting information, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the House Oversight Committee chair, said the military spending demands answers.

"Given the President's continued financial stake in his Scotland golf courses," wrote Cummings, "these reports raise questions about the President's potential receipt of U.S. or foreign government emoluments in violation of the U.S. Constitution and raise other serious conflict of interest concerns."

While the oversight committee has asked the military for documents relating to the unusual expenses, thus far there's been no response.

"The Defense Department has not produced a single document in this investigation," a senior Democratic aide told Politico. "The committee will be forced to consider alternative steps if the Pentagon does not begin complying voluntarily in the coming days."
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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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  #2  
Old 09-07-2019, 08:47 AM
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Arrow 'Conflict of interest concerns': House investigating increased military spending at T

'Conflict of interest concerns': House investigating increased military spending at Trump's Turnberry resort
By: Christal Hayes - USA Today - 9-7-19
RE: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...se/2245245001/

WASHINGTON – Democrats on a House panel are investigating increased military spending at President Donald Trump's struggling golf resort at Turnberry in Scotland, according to a newly discovered letter.

The June letter sent from the House Oversight Committee to then-acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, which was obtained by USA TODAY and first published by Politico on Friday evening, details the months-long investigation into military spending at the resort, which the committee says "increased substantially since the election."

Chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md., and Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., note in the letter that from October 2017 to June of this year, there have been 629 purchase orders for fuel at the nearby Glasgow Prestwick Airport, totaling $11 million. The airport, which the Democrats note is integral to the resort's financial success, has also struggled financially in recent years and is in the midst of being sold, according to the BBC.

Politico noted that U.S. military refueling at the airport is not typical and likely more expensive as fuel is cheaper at military bases compared with commercial airports. The outlet notes that bases in Germany, Spain, Italy and even a base in the U.K., which was the closest to the Scotland resort, have been used more typically for refueling on overseas missions.

The letter also cites a Guardian article detailing that the airport has offered rooms at Trump's resort for a lower price to military members, along with free rounds of golf. In 2017, the resort lost $4.5 million, the Washington Post reported, but the following year revenue went up $3 million, notes Politico.

"Given the President's continued financial stake in his Scotland golf course, these reports raise questions about the President's potential receipt of U.S. or foreign government emoluments in violation of the U.S. Constitution and raise other serious conflict of interest concerns," the letter states.

The House panel requested a variety of documents from the Department of Defense, including all communications between the department and officials working at the resort or linked to it.

But the committee hasn't received any documents in the months since the letter was sent. The administration has consistently pushed back on House investigations and resisted complying with such requests, which has forced Democrats to ask the courts to intervene.

"The Defense Department has not produced a single document in this investigation," a senior Democratic committee aide said on Saturday. "The Committee will be forced to consider alternative steps if the Pentagon does not begin complying voluntarily in the coming days."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Losses report on Trumps Scotland Resort:

ELLIAH F. CUMMINGS. MARYLAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS JIM JORDAN. OHIO

CHAIRMAN RANKING MINORITY MEMBER

at the ?Hntteh ?vtatez

169mm at Representatives
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND REFORM

2157 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING

WASHINGTON, DC 20515?6143

Mauomzv (202) 225?5051
MINORITV (2021 925?5074

usagov

June 21,2019

The Honorable Patrick M, Shanahan
Acting Secretary

U.S. Department of Defense

1400 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC. 20301

Dear Acting Secretary Shanahan:

The Committee is investigating President Donald Trump?s potential con?icts of interest
stemming from his continued stake in foreign businesses, the accuracy of his federal ?nancial
reporting about those businesses, and his potential receipt of emoluments in violation of the U.S.
Constitution.I

Two years before the 2016 election, President Trump spent hundreds of millions of
dollars to purchase and renovate the Tumberry golf course in Scotland.2 To date, the property
has continued to suffer ?nancial losses and has not turned a pro?t for the President or his
companies.3

The airport closest to the Trump Tumberry golf course?Glasgow Prestwick Airport?
has been viewed as integral to the golf course?s ?nancial success, yet it too has lost millions of
dollars every year since its purchase by the Scottish government in 2013.4 Just last week, on
June 13, the Scottish government announced its intention to sell the debt-ridden airport.5



U.S. Const., art. 11, 1, cl. 7 (prohibiting the President from receiving ?any other Emolument from the
United States? other than an of?cial salary); U.S. Const., art. I, 9, cl. 8 (prohibiting the President from receiving,
?without the Consent of Congress any present, Emolument, Of?ce, or Title, of any kind whatever, ?'om any
King, Prince, or foreign State?).

2 Where Did Donald Trump Get Two Hundred Million Dollars to Buy His Money?Losing Scottish Golf
Club?, The New Yorker (July 13, 2018) (online at


3 Trump ?3 Scotland Golf ourse Lost $4.5 Million in 201 7, New Report Says, Washington Post (Oct. 4,
2018) (online at
says/201 8/10/04/3821 aa66-c7lb-l le8-b2b5 -79270f90ce 7b3 642).

4No Timescale for Prestwick Airport to Pay Back Government Loans, The Scotsman (Jan. 16, 2019) (online
at
1-4857501).

5 Publicly-Owned Prestwick Airport Put Up for Sale, British Broadcasting Corporation (June 13, 2019)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The president and the Trump Organization have been criticized repeatedly over reports detailing foreign nationals staying at the properties. That has intensified recently as Trump boasted that he wanted to hold the G-7 Summit at his Doral resort in Miami and questions about Vice President Mike Pence's recent stay at Trump's Ireland resort.

But this would be the first time questions have been raised about whether the military was helping boost profits for Trump's business.

The investigation is just one of many led by House Democrats since taking the majority in the 2018 elections. Among the list of other issues liberals are examining: the separation of migrant families at the southern U.S. border, Trump's personal tax returns, the addition of a citizenship question on the Census and hush-money payments to two women who alleged affairs with the president.

Trump once again uses his position to improve his personal family wealth at the expense of the US Tax Payers. This is illegal. His staff should have informed him that prior to any arrangements.

Why hasn't any meetings been held a Camp David - why is it always a Trump makes a buck off our Taxes for his personal gains?
__________________
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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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Old 09-07-2019, 09:06 AM
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Arrow Maddow Shocked By ‘Jaw-Dropping’ Report on Military Spending at Trump Resort: ‘Unchar

Maddow Shocked By ‘Jaw-Dropping’ Report on Military Spending at Trump Resort: ‘Uncharted Waters’ in ‘Presidential Corruption’
By Aidan McLaughlinSep 7th, 2019, 9:30 am
RE: https://www.mediaite.com/tv/maddow-s...al-corruption/

Rachel Maddow was stunned by a new report revealing that Congress is investigating unusual military spending at one of President Donald Trump’s properties, raising questions over what could be yet another avenue of the president using his position to personally enrich himself.

The “jaw-dropping” and “truly bonkers” story, Maddow explained, reported on unusual military spending at the Trump Turnberry golf course and resort in Scotland — including an Air National Guard crew making an unusual overnight stay there — that could profit the president’s organization.

“Since April, the House Oversight Committee has been investigating why the crew on the C-17 military transport plane made the unusual stay — both en route to the Middle East and on the way back — at the luxury waterside resort, according to several people familiar with the incident,” Politico’s Natasha Bertrand and Bryan Bender reported. “The inquiry is part of a broader, previously unreported probe into U.S. military expenditures at and around the Trump property in Scotland. According to a letter the panel sent to the Pentagon in June, the military has spent $11 million on fuel at the Prestwick Airport — the closest airport to Trump Turnberry — since October 2017, fuel that would be cheaper if purchased at a U.S. military base.”

“Taken together, the incidents raise the possibility that the military has helped keep Trump’s Turnberry resort afloat — the property lost $4.5 million in 2017, but revenue went up $3 million in 2018,” the report states.

“I mean, the implication in this brand new reporting tonight from Politico is that Trump’s, you know, got this money-losing resort in Florida to which he now wants to direct the G7,” Maddow explained. “He’s got this money-losing golf resort in Ireland, which he has already directed Vice President Pence and his entourage.”

“Now, in addition, he’s got this money-losing golf resort in Scotland that was about to lose the money-losing airport that serviced it.”

She continued: “But now, miraculously, now that Donald Trump is president, American military cargo planes have started refueling at that airport, at a significant price mark up. It’s much cheaper for them to get their fuel at military bases. That’s part of the reason they always stop at military bases. Also, they’re the military. They’re no longer stopping at military bases. Instead they’re stopping at the airport that Trump needs to prop up to keep his Scottish golf resort going and they’re paying full freight commercial airport rates for that fuel. And then they’re sending the aircrews to go stay at the president’s resort.”

“It is bad enough when the vice president goes 180 miles out of his way to put taxpayer money directly into the president’s pocket,” Maddow said. “But if the U.S. military is being used to prop up one of the president’s troubled properties, A, this is uncharted waters, obviously, in terms of presidential corruption. B, this implicates the president himself, obviously, and everybody else who participated in it. This Scotland part with the C-17s, flying into that weird little airport outside Glasgow? This implicates the military who apparently went along with this, didn’t peep about it, and now isn’t cooperating with congressional oversight committees that are trying to investigate it.”

Natasha Bertrand then appeared on MSNBC to discuss her reporting, referring to the “self-dealing and grift” revealed in the story as “remarkably brazen.”

Watch above, via MSNBC. On site the video of her report.
__________________
Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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