President Donald Trump walks as he plays a round of golf on the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry, his luxury golf resort in Scotland. (Photo: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images)
Sep 10, 2019
Two Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday threatened to subpoena the Pentagon for documents related to taxpayer money spent at President Donald Trump's Scotland golf resort after the New York Timesreported that Trump cut a deal with a local airport to help funnel flight crews to his hotel.
"We're challenging Trump's laughably fraudulent claim that he had 'nothing to do with' the Prestwick Airport near his failing Scottish resort," tweeted Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who along with Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper requesting the documents.
The letter comes hours after the Timesreported that, in 2014, Trump played a direct role in establishing a partnership with Glasgow Prestwick Airport "to get Trump Turnberry added to a list of hotels that the airport would routinely send aircrews to, even though the Turnberry resort is 20 miles from the airport, farther away than many other hotels, and has higher advertised prices."
\u201cLooks like this corruption has EVERYTHING to do w/you, @realDonaldTrump\u2069:\n\n"Documents from the Scottish govt show that Trump Org & Mr. Trump himself played a direct role in setting up arrangement between Turnberry resort & Glasgow Prestwick Airport." \n\nhttps://t.co/QaYrvmhDQ2\u201d— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@Rep. Pramila Jayapal) 1568086349
Details of the arrangement, and Trump's direct involvement, emerged days after Politicoreported that the U.S. military has spent $11 million on fuel at the Prestwick Airport since 2017. Prestwick also "provided cut-rate rooms and free rounds of golf at Turnberry for U.S. military members," according to Politico.
"The incidents," Politico noted, "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."
Cummings and Raskin said in their letter (pdf) that using taxpayer money to prop up Trump's Turnberry resort would violate the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the Constitution.
"President Trump and his company have had significant, direct, and detailed interactions with Prestwick Airport for years, including the president proclaiming that he was 'thrilled to be partnering' with the airport, the president personally trying to boost passenger traffic at the airport, and the Trump Organization negotiating room rates directly with the airport," Cummings and Raskin wrote. "These and other actions by the president and his company reflect how critical this airport is to his financial bottom-line."
"In order to stop contributing to any further constitutional violations," the Democrats said, "the department should immediately implement a policy against taxpayer funds going to any Trump-related properties or businesses."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Two Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday threatened to subpoena the Pentagon for documents related to taxpayer money spent at President Donald Trump's Scotland golf resort after the New York Timesreported that Trump cut a deal with a local airport to help funnel flight crews to his hotel.
"We're challenging Trump's laughably fraudulent claim that he had 'nothing to do with' the Prestwick Airport near his failing Scottish resort," tweeted Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who along with Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper requesting the documents.
The letter comes hours after the Timesreported that, in 2014, Trump played a direct role in establishing a partnership with Glasgow Prestwick Airport "to get Trump Turnberry added to a list of hotels that the airport would routinely send aircrews to, even though the Turnberry resort is 20 miles from the airport, farther away than many other hotels, and has higher advertised prices."
\u201cLooks like this corruption has EVERYTHING to do w/you, @realDonaldTrump\u2069:\n\n"Documents from the Scottish govt show that Trump Org & Mr. Trump himself played a direct role in setting up arrangement between Turnberry resort & Glasgow Prestwick Airport." \n\nhttps://t.co/QaYrvmhDQ2\u201d— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@Rep. Pramila Jayapal) 1568086349
Details of the arrangement, and Trump's direct involvement, emerged days after Politicoreported that the U.S. military has spent $11 million on fuel at the Prestwick Airport since 2017. Prestwick also "provided cut-rate rooms and free rounds of golf at Turnberry for U.S. military members," according to Politico.
"The incidents," Politico noted, "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."
Cummings and Raskin said in their letter (pdf) that using taxpayer money to prop up Trump's Turnberry resort would violate the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the Constitution.
"President Trump and his company have had significant, direct, and detailed interactions with Prestwick Airport for years, including the president proclaiming that he was 'thrilled to be partnering' with the airport, the president personally trying to boost passenger traffic at the airport, and the Trump Organization negotiating room rates directly with the airport," Cummings and Raskin wrote. "These and other actions by the president and his company reflect how critical this airport is to his financial bottom-line."
"In order to stop contributing to any further constitutional violations," the Democrats said, "the department should immediately implement a policy against taxpayer funds going to any Trump-related properties or businesses."
Two Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday threatened to subpoena the Pentagon for documents related to taxpayer money spent at President Donald Trump's Scotland golf resort after the New York Timesreported that Trump cut a deal with a local airport to help funnel flight crews to his hotel.
"We're challenging Trump's laughably fraudulent claim that he had 'nothing to do with' the Prestwick Airport near his failing Scottish resort," tweeted Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who along with Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper requesting the documents.
The letter comes hours after the Timesreported that, in 2014, Trump played a direct role in establishing a partnership with Glasgow Prestwick Airport "to get Trump Turnberry added to a list of hotels that the airport would routinely send aircrews to, even though the Turnberry resort is 20 miles from the airport, farther away than many other hotels, and has higher advertised prices."
\u201cLooks like this corruption has EVERYTHING to do w/you, @realDonaldTrump\u2069:\n\n"Documents from the Scottish govt show that Trump Org & Mr. Trump himself played a direct role in setting up arrangement between Turnberry resort & Glasgow Prestwick Airport." \n\nhttps://t.co/QaYrvmhDQ2\u201d— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@Rep. Pramila Jayapal) 1568086349
Details of the arrangement, and Trump's direct involvement, emerged days after Politicoreported that the U.S. military has spent $11 million on fuel at the Prestwick Airport since 2017. Prestwick also "provided cut-rate rooms and free rounds of golf at Turnberry for U.S. military members," according to Politico.
"The incidents," Politico noted, "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."
Cummings and Raskin said in their letter (pdf) that using taxpayer money to prop up Trump's Turnberry resort would violate the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the Constitution.
"President Trump and his company have had significant, direct, and detailed interactions with Prestwick Airport for years, including the president proclaiming that he was 'thrilled to be partnering' with the airport, the president personally trying to boost passenger traffic at the airport, and the Trump Organization negotiating room rates directly with the airport," Cummings and Raskin wrote. "These and other actions by the president and his company reflect how critical this airport is to his financial bottom-line."
"In order to stop contributing to any further constitutional violations," the Democrats said, "the department should immediately implement a policy against taxpayer funds going to any Trump-related properties or businesses."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.