House Democrats question Secret Service on payments to Trump properties

The Hill ^ | 02 12 2020 | Cristina Marcos

[DoughtyOne]

Note to demoⁿcRats.

When you stay in a presidential suite, every other room's rate is a cheap rate.

[Robert357]

I seem to remember very high payments to both Hillary and Biden for Secret Service to stay close to those they were protecting. So is this much different?

[Skybird]

This is a nothing. Government sets per diem rates for lodging, food, and miscellaneous official expenses at localities. Government employees file a travel voucher upon completing their trip.

If, by chance, government employees were charged higher than the per diem, there’s usually a justification for mission need. In this case, it’s not feasible to expect agents protecting the President to stay at a “cheap sleep” 45 minutes away or even down the street. Communications needs to be set up in place at the President’s location.

I’d be surprised if any Trump properties charged more than the maximum locality rate—a nice gesture, but certainly not required as long as it’s consistent with what others are being charged. If the oversight busybodies are expecting the Trump properties to “comp” the stays of the entourage at zero cost, that isn’t allowed either as it could be considered a gratuity. The government has to pay for services received as long as it’s not fraudulent or excessive.

No doubt there’s a cadre of lawyers constantly reviewing all of this.

[Hot Tabasco]

I have to admit, the charges to the SS at Mir A Lago seem to be a bit excess after a statement by Kushner where he said they only charge about $65 per night........

I sure hope someone can clarify this.........

[SkyDancer]

But was okay under 0bama.

[NTHockey]

So did Old Joe Biden.

I would hope that they declared it as income on their tax returns.

[Chode]

was that actually paid money or just on the hotel books for accounting purposes to be written off???

[Ozark Tom]

The Biden SS detail is billed $2200 a month for their cottage adjacent to his waterfront home.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Was Biden charging the SS rent? Or Hillary? Or did both do it?

[shalom aleichem]

Sure they both did it, and probably still do in the case of Hillary and Bill’s house in Chappaqua NY

[familyop]

Democrats continue to pump up the vote for Trump!

[Tunehead54]

Plus the hazardous/disgusting duty pay for female SS agents that guard Biden when he’s walking around and swimming naked when the wife is out of town.

I think that should be added in as well. ;-)

[eyedigress]

‘Peach Foty Six!