Donald Trump took office on January 20, 2017 in Washington DC. Picture: EPA
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That too: the Trump family is said to have enriched themselves at the inauguration ceremony
The public prosecutor has brought an action.
Prosecutors in Washington, DC, have filed a lawsuit against the inauguration committee of President Donald Trump for the illegal use of public funds.
Money was “obviously” misused for the purpose of “enriching the Trump family”District Attorney Karl Racine said on Wednesday. Investigations had shown that the festival committee had made “exorbitant and illegal payments” to the Trump hotel in order to rent event space for inauguration activities – in consultation with members of the Trump family and hotel management.
Premises cost: $ 1.03 million
Non-profit organizations such as the inaugural committee have special advantages, such as tax exemption. They are therefore legally obliged to ensure that their funds are used for the public purpose mentioned, said the prosecutor.
A number of reasons were cited which, according to the investigators, indicate the unlawful use of funds. The cost of the premises would have been far above the market value. Although committee members had raised concerns about the $ 1.03 million cost, the committee chairman signed the rental agreement, the statement said.
Rooms paid for four days, but only used for two days
The hotel received payments for the use of rooms over four days, but the rooms were only used for two days. One event also resulted in a “private party for Trump’s children”. The committee had the opportunity to hold the events in significantly cheaper places, also for free.
The elected president has to cover the costs of the inauguration alone in large parts. In view of the cost of security measures, the state does not pay for the festivities in particular.
Trump’s festival committee announced shortly before the inauguration in 2017 that it had received $ 90 million for individual donor and corporate festivities, including a large donation of one million.
(SDA / dpa)
