Public Protection for Donald Trump Jr.'s India Sales Trip

2018-02-23

Public Protection for Donald Trump Jr.'s India Sales Trip

unresolved

Promised: 2017-01-11At Trump's January 2017 press conference, counsel for the Trump Organization said the arrangement would isolate him from the business, bar new foreign deals and donate foreign-government hotel profits to the Treasury.Open cited record · 2 sources
The record: 2018-02-23Donald Trump Jr. traveled in India to promote Trump-branded condominium projects while receiving Secret Service protection and State Department support.Open cited record · 2 sources2018-11-15FOIA records documented federal travel, lodging, vehicle and overtime costs associated with the trip.Open cited record · 2 sources
Who gained: Trump Organization India licensing business
Who paid: United States taxpayers
United States taxpayers
Audit finding: unresolved
The government incurred protection and support costs for private family-business travel, but those costs are not the same as payments to Trump entities or project profit.
Causal strength: documented mechanism

Evidence chronology

promise2017-01-11documented
At Trump's January 2017 press conference, counsel for the Trump Organization said the arrangement would isolate him from the business, bar new foreign deals and donate foreign-government hotel profits to the Treasury.
- Time: Read a Transcript of Donald Trump's Press Conference on Conflicts of Interest2017-01-11 · Sheri Dillon remarks: no new foreign deals, limited information rights, compliance counsel, and donation of foreign-government hotel profits
- U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Oversight Committee Requests Documents on Trump Organization's Treatment of Foreign Government Payments2017-04-21 · Bipartisan committee letter describing the January pledge and requesting implementation records
Open underlying ledger entry
action2018-02-23documented
Donald Trump Jr. traveled in India to promote Trump-branded condominium projects while receiving Secret Service protection and State Department support.
- American Oversight: State Department records concerning Donald Trump Jr.'s India trip2018-08-24 · FOIA production concerning February 2018 India travel
- The Washington Post: Taxpayers' cost for Trump Jr.'s business trip to India nearly $100K, documents show2018-11-15 · DHS FOIA records, business itinerary, cost categories and limitations
Open underlying ledger entry
outcome2018-11-15documented
FOIA records documented federal travel, lodging, vehicle and overtime costs associated with the trip.
- American Oversight: State Department records concerning Donald Trump Jr.'s India trip2018-08-24 · FOIA production concerning February 2018 India travel
- The Washington Post: Taxpayers' cost for Trump Jr.'s business trip to India nearly $100K, documents show2018-11-15 · DHS FOIA records, business itinerary, cost categories and limitations
Open underlying ledger entry
limitation2018-11-15reported
Federal law provides protection to the president's immediate family; the record does not establish a project sale caused by that support.
- The Washington Post: Taxpayers' cost for Trump Jr.'s business trip to India nearly $100K, documents show2018-11-15 · DHS FOIA records, business itinerary, cost categories and limitations
Open underlying ledger entry

Responses, legal status, contrary evidence, and limitations

limitation
Federal law provides protection to the president's immediate family; the record does not establish a project sale caused by that support.