JERHOLD NADLER, New York DOUG COLLINS Georgia CHAIRMAN RANKING MINORITY MEMBER 281.5. 7901152 at Representatthes QEummittee an the juhitiarp Washington, ZBQIZ 20515?6216 @ne itaunhreb gaixteentb (?inngrerts September 5, 2019 Mr. Pat Cipollone Counsel to the President The White House 1600 Avenue, NW. Washington, DC. 20500 Mr. James Murray Director US. Secret Service 245 Murray Drive, SW, Building T5 Washington, DC. 20223 Dear Mr. Cipollone and Director Murray: We write to obtain information concerning President Trump?s apparent promotion and solicitation of foreign and US. government business at Trump Organization owned or af?liated properties. The House Judiciary Committee is examining allegations of obstruction of justice, public corruption, and other abuses of power by the President. Potential violations of the Foreign1 and Domestic2 Emoluments Clauses of the Constitution are of signi?cant interest and grave concern to the Committee as it considers whether to recommend articles of impeachment. On August 26, 2019, President Trump promoted Trump National Doral Miami as the venue to the 46th G7 Summit during an of?cial G7 press conference. The of?cial White House twitter account appeared to con?rm the Trump National Doral Miami as the location of the next G7 summit.3 Vice President Mike Pence then stayed at Trump International Golf Links Hotel Doonbeg during his of?cial trip to Ireland. He chose the Doonbeg resort despite its 181-mile distance from Dublin?the location of all his of?cial meetings.4 To compensate for the commute, the Vice President ?ew into Dublin for his meetings. Article 1, section 9, clause 8 of the Constitution provides, in relevant part, tha Person holding any Of?ce of Pro?t or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent CONST. ArtWhite House (@WhiteHouse), TWITTER (Aug. 26, 2019, 9:57 AM), 1166031887242018816. 4 Cathy Halloran, US wants Brexit that encourages stability in Ireland Pence, RAIDIO EIREANN, Sept. 3, 2019. Page 1 of 4 any King, Prince, or foreign State.? In addition, article II, section 1, clause 7 states, ?The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.? The hosting of the G7 Summit at Doral implicates both of these clauses because it would entail both foreign and US. government spending to bene?t the President, potentially including US. federal and state expenditures. The Doral situation re?ects perhaps the ?rst publicly known instance in which foreign governments would be required to spend foreign government funds at President Trump?s private businesses in order to engage in of?cial diplomatic negotiations and meetings with the United States. While acting in his capacity as the President of the United States, President Trump repeatedly touted the location?s amenities and con?rmed the government was considering the property as a G7 summit venue.S Reports from the same day also describe the President promoting Doral in a G7 meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.6 In fact, this is not the ?rst time Doral has been raised in the context of a G7 summit. On June 20, 2019, it was ?rst reported the President proposed that the Trump National Doral Miami host the 2020 G7 summit.7 Last week?s revelation about efforts to select the Doral as the site of the 46th G7 summit is only the latest in what appears to be a troubling pattern in this regard, which include the Trump property at Doonbeg. Despite con?icting statements,8 the Vice President?s chief of staff initially con?rmed that the President himself suggested the Vice President stay at Doonbeg during the trip.9 The Vice President?s decision to stay at Doonbeg follows earlier reports suggesting the President?s of?cial meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar was cancelled over a venue dispute involving Doonbeg.10 The President requested his meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar to be held at Doonbeg?a venue opposed by Irish authorities: ?The Irish government fe [1t] that protocol dictates that any event they host for President Trump should be at a venue of their choosing and certainly not at an hotel owned by Trump.?11 The threat that the President?s personal ?nancial interests could shape decisions concerning of?cial US. government activities is precisely the type of risk that the Emoluments 5 John Wagner David Fahrenthold, Trump pushes back on ?nasty rumor? of bed bug infestation at his Doral golf resort, WASH. POST, Aug. 27, 2019 (?Doral happens to be only ?ve minutes from the airport, the airport?s right next door. And by the way, my people looked at 12 sites, all good, but some were two hours from the airport, some four hours?). 6 Allie Malloy, Trump says US may host next G7 at Trump National Doral Golf Resort, CNN, Aug. 26, 2019. 7 David A. Fahrenthold, et al., When Trump visits his clubs, government agencies and Republicans pay to be where he is, WASH. POST, June 20, 2019. 8 Kaitlan Collins Kevin Liptak, Pence faces heat over Doonbeg boondoggle, CNN, Sept. 4,2019. 9 Robert Costa, et al., Trump encouraged Pence to stay at his golf resort in Ireland, WASH. POST, Sept. 3, 2019 (?Marc Short, Pence?s chief of staff, said that Trump himself had suggested that Pence stay at the Trump hotel, after hearing about Pence?s '0 Suzanne eta1., Donald Trump visit to Ireland will not go ahead in November, IRISH TIMES, Sept. 11, 2018; Trump visit to Ireland will not go ahead, RAIDIO EIREANN, Sept. 12, 2018. '1 Matthew Hoye, Stando? over venue threatens to derail Trump visit to Ireland,? CNN, May 19, 2019. Page 2 of 4 The threat that the President?s personal ?nancial interests could shape decisions concerning of?cial US. government activities is precisely the type of risk that the Emoluments Clauses were intended to minimize. The Doral and Doonbeg cases are just two of the many examples of the solicitation or receipt of foreign government spending to the bene?t of the President?s private ?nancial interests. While White House of?cials have repeatedly claimed it is easier for Secret Service and law enforcement to secure the President?s resorts when he and the Vice President travel, there has been no con?rmation by law enforcement or the Secret Service to support the practice of spending taxpayer dollars on the President?s businesses. The impact that the President?s business interests may have on his of?cial conduct and American foreign policy interests demands scrutiny by Congress?as does the use of taxpayer dollars on properties or businesses personally bene?ting the President. Any alleged violations of the Emoluments Clauses are a profoundly serious matter under the Constitution. In light of the foregoing facts, constitutional provisions and the Committee?s ongoing impeachment investigation, we request you provide responses to the following questions and document requests no later than September 19, 2019: l. The complete list of US. cities and properties identi?ed as possible host venues for the 46th G7 Summit, including, but not limited to, properties owned or af?liated with the Trump Organization.12 2. Copies of any Department of Justice opinion, memorandum, or guidance on the applicability of the Foreign and Domestic Emoluments Clauses issued after January 20, 2017 relating to the hosting of the 46?" G7 Summit at The Trump National Doral Miami or of meetings of government organizations at any property in which the President has an interest. 3. Documents and communications between Trump National Doral Miami or the Trump Organization and the US Secret Service relating to the 46th G7 Summit. 4. Documents and communications between the Executive Of?ce of the President and the Secret Service relating to the Trump National Doral Miami or the selection of a venue for the 46th G7 Summit. 5. Documents and communications between the Executive Of?ce of the President, and the Department of State relating to Trump National Doral Miami or the selection of a venue for the 46th G7 Summit. 6. Documents and communications relating to any communications by the President concerning the selection of venues for the 46th G7 Summit, including, but not limited to, Trump National Doral Miami. We would appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. ?2 The ?Trump Organization? includes the Trump Organization, Inc., The Trump Organization LLC, and their parent companies, subsidiary companies, af?liated entities, agents, of?cials, and instrumentalities. Page 3 of 4 Sincerely, irman Jerrold Nadler Chairman Steve Cohen use Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties House Committee on the Judiciary CC: Ranking Member Doug Collins, House Committee on the Judiciary Ranking Member Mike Johnson, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, House Committee on the Judiciary Page 4 of 4