Trump Company Lawyers Asked Panama's President to Intervene
What happened
promisedocumented 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
actiondocumented Lawyers representing the Trump company sent Panama's president a letter requesting influence in the private hotel dispute.
- The Washington Post: Warning of repercussions, Trump company lawyers seek Panama president's help2018-04-09 · Letter text, hotel-management dispute and Trump Organization position
- U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: Menendez Questions President Trump's Conflicts of Interests in Panama2018-05-11 · March 22 letter chronology and request for information
outcomedocumented A Senate Foreign Relations Committee letter sought information about Trump's knowledge and any effect on U.S.-Panama policy; the cited record does not show the requested intervention occurred.
- U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: Menendez Questions President Trump's Conflicts of Interests in Panama2018-05-11 · March 22 letter chronology and request for information
limitationdocumented The sources do not establish that Trump directed the letter, that Panama intervened or that U.S. policy changed because of it.
- The Washington Post: Warning of repercussions, Trump company lawyers seek Panama president's help2018-04-09 · Letter text, hotel-management dispute and Trump Organization position
- U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: Menendez Questions President Trump's Conflicts of Interests in Panama2018-05-11 · March 22 letter chronology and request for information
People and organizations
- Government of Panamaaffected party
- Trump Ocean Club majority ownersaffected party
- Trump Panama hotel-management businessbeneficiary
Assessment
A private Trump business dispute was taken straight to a foreign head of state while Trump held office, against the announced separation of office and business. The record does not show presidential direction or Panamanian intervention.