Pro-Trump groups spending big at Trump properties - unprecedented
Political groups supporting President Donald Trump are doubling as big-spending customers for the business empire he has not divested from.
Trump’s reelection campaign has spent $670,000 at Trump properties since he was elected president, and $125,000 during the first three months of this year alone, recent disclosures show.
But Trump’s campaign is not the only group paying Trump’s companies for events, catering and sometimes even rent: The Republican National Committee has also paid $1.1 million to Trump properties since the election. Outside PACs supporting Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have also been two of the biggest political spenders at Trump properties during that time.
Because Trump has maintained his financial interest in his vast business while president — and, unlike previous presidents, filed for reelection soon after taking office — the relationship between pro-Trump political groups and the Trump businesses has no precedent. While congressional campaigns for Republican lawmakers have also spent money at Trump properties, much of the spending at Trump properties from outside political groups appears to come from those linked closely to the president.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/21/trump-properties-spending-political-groups-544905
The spending has led some watchdogs to call for a ban on such spending.
“There are two serious problems with allowing campaign money to be spent on personal properties owned by the candidate. When the campaign money comes from the candidate, the candidate is using donor money for self-enrichment," said Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist at the watchdog group Public Citizen. “When the campaign money spent on a candidate’s personal properties comes from others – say, special interest groups or even other officeholders – it is often done so as a means to buy access and endear the candidate as an influence-peddling tool.”
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