Posted on 05/21/2019 7:13:45 AM PDT by deplorableindc
President Trump was “thrilled” that his campaign acquired Northern Virginia office space at “bargain basement” rates, a campaign official told the Washington Examiner in an interview in the plush 14th floor offices overlooking the Potomac River from Arlington, Va.
But campaign finance specialists say the "steal" could violate election law, which views below-market rates for rent as an illegal in-kind campaign donation.
The deal was presented as a story of real estate prowess that was a fitting reflection of the man who authored The Art of the Deal. Campaign manager Brad Parscale took advantage of a long-term lease inked in 2013 by a financial firm formerly led by Politico CEO Patrick Steel. The firm, FBR & Co, was acquired in 2017 by B. Riley Financial, and the offices were no longer needed.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
“lease inked in 2013” -— I am shocked the Bezos Post printed this, which apparently calls into question the entire gist of the story.
Still waiting after all these years.
The President has been negotiating deals all of his adult life. To call this ‘illegal’ would require them to know the personal thoughts of those doing the negotiating. This is not like Hillary’s cattle futures ‘matter’.
A campaign official told the paper that Trump was thrilled. He didn’t say it.
In essence, you’re guilty if you pay less than list price.
He should consider running as much of the campaign as possible out of places like Grand Rapids, Dubuque, Green Bay, Harrisburg, or Bemidji.
Normal rents would be a small fraction. Important states.
formerly led by Politico CEO Patrick Steel..................
There will be no end to this in our national political feeding frenzy so long as their is no price to be paid. In every transaction Trump enters into 50% of the people in it are political opponents and so this stuff will just go around and around.
We need much stronger defamation laws, civil AND criminal.
Only idjits pay retail..................
For political campaigns, yes.
The campaign bought apples listed at $1.79 a pound on special, a discount from the usual $2.49. Impeach.
I guess the Left is now ready to question any sweet heart deal for and Democrat ever signed even before they entered politics too?
(I’m amazed I was able to complete writing that without breaking down into giggles! Of course they don’t care what other Democrats do! The seriousness of the charges only goes one way.)
... and you’re a Republican.
Okay
So, if he sub’d tobacco existing lease, why is he not entitled to pay rent based on that lease, further the owner of the lease should be able to decide what he wants to rent something for and lastly, have there been any complaints of him overpaying?
Jackasses...
Looking under every rock....while the Clinton Fake Foundation never gets a sniff.
I see, you are supposed to make bad deals to be credible??
Misleading title, which is unusual for The Washington Examiner. Pres. Trump got a good deal because he paid upfront in cash. It turns out that there might have been cheaper floor space on higher floors. Maybe a good deal, but not a steal or campaign finance cheating.
“Brad found out about it and went to them and said, ‘Hey, would you do a lump sum payment cash up front for the next two years? They said, ‘Sold!’”
“Pointing at potential overpayment, the 15th and 16th floors of the same building currently are advertised for $33 per square foot for a sublease through December. Like the Trump office space, they come furnished, said broker Brent Mathis, who believes the floors have been available roughly three years, meaning when the campaign was looking.
The lower rate for the higher floors could undercut the notion of a “steal,” though the official hearing of other new tenants paying higher rates cuts the other way.”
Ah, more rectal probings of Trump and his campaign that ‘may, ‘could’, ‘possibly’ violate something that democrat campaigns absolutely did violate which the media roundly ignored. And if some conservative did point it out they were vilified or ignored.
I highly suspect there has to be intent to mask campaign contributions as lower cost.
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