do City project, including a Trump International Resort, Trump International Golf Club, and Trump Residences Lido.[11] Documents show that the Trump Organization and President Trump’s sons were directly involved in planning the project and the Trump Organization was paid almost $3.7 million in licensing and consulting payments by MNC.[12]
These circumstances raise the specter that the Trump Organization may have leveraged the Office of the President and the diplomatic relationship between the United States and China to advance the company’s private interests in Indonesia and elsewhere. We note that President Trump never divested his holdings in the Trump Organization, and that the company continues to be managed by members of the President’s family. Any use of public office for private gain may violate both federal law and ethics regulations,[13] and would certainly merit further investigation.
MNC’s 2017 Annual Report highlights the importance of the Lido City project’s association with President Trump’s brand. The project is described as “an exclusive community bearing the prestigious Trump name synonymous with quality and luxury" and “a collaboration between MNC Land and Trump Hotel Collection to deliver the first resort in Asia bearing the Trump brand."[14]
In light of these concerns, we respectfully request you provide, in a timely manner and in any event no later than June 14, 2018, answers and supporting documentation to the following questions.
§ Has the Commerce Department communicated with the President of China or any other political figures in China, with regards to Trump Organization projects in Indonesia or China, including MNC Lido City and MNC Bali Resort? If so please provide copies or describe the nature and context of any such communications.
§ Has the Commerce Department communicated with the President of China or any other political figures in China, with regards to any other of the Trump Organization’s overseas projects? If so please provide copies or describe the nature and context of any such communications.
§ Has the Commerce Department communicated with the President of Indonesia or any other political figures in Indonesia, with regards to Trump Organization projects in Indonesia, including MNC Lido City and MNC Bali Resort? If so please provide copies or describe the nature and context of any such communications.
§ Has the Trump Organization, any individual or organization representing the Trump Organization, communicated with the Commerce Department since the funding for the MNC Lido City project was secured in May 2018? If so please provide copies or describe the nature and context of any such communications.
§ Has the Trump Organization, any individual or organization representing the Trump Organization, communicated with the Commerce Department on matters related to MNC Lido City or MNC Bali Resort? If so please provide copies or describe the nature and context of any such communications.
§ Has the President, any employee of the White House, or any official or unofficial adviser to the President communicated with any Commerce Department employee regarding MNC Lido City or MNC Bali Resort? If so please provide copies or describe the nature and context of any such communications.
We would appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.
