Trump Company Lawyers Asked Panama's President to Intervene

2018-03-22

Trump Company Lawyers Asked Panama's President to Intervene

contradicted

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: 2018-03-22Lawyers representing the Trump company sent Panama's president a letter requesting influence in the private hotel dispute.Open cited record · 2 sources2018-05-11A 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.Open cited record · 1 source
Who gained: Trump Panama hotel-management business
Who paid: Government of Panama
Trump Ocean Club majority owners
Audit finding: contradicted
A private Trump business dispute was taken directly to a foreign head of state while Trump held office, conflicting with the announced separation of office and business even though the record does not show presidential direction or Panamanian intervention.
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
action2018-03-22documented
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
Open underlying ledger entry
outcome2018-05-11documented
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
Open underlying ledger entry
limitation2018-05-11documented
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
Open underlying ledger entry

Responses, legal status, contrary evidence, and limitations

limitation
The sources do not establish that Trump directed the letter, that Panama intervened or that U.S. policy changed because of it.