The Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC has received over $270,000 from a lobbying campaign linked to Saudi Arabia, the Daily Caller reports.
The money was spent as part of a lobbying effort against Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), which allows U.S. nationals to sue foreign governments for acts of international terrorism, even if the U.S. does not recognize the entity as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Congress passed JASTA in September, overriding a presidential veto signed by former President Barack Obama.
The payments in question were part of a $8.4 million lobbying effort against JASTA. According to documents filed with the Justice Department, the group, Qorvis MSLGroup, paid nearly $200,000 to Trump International for lodging, among other expenses. The group claims its lobbying goal involves “describing the unintended consequences that JASTA poses to U.S. interests, including potential legal liabilities arising for U.S. military, intelligence and diplomatic personnel.”
“This is a textbook example of a foreign government paying directly into the President’s pocketbook while pursuing its own policy goals,” Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) told the Wall Street Journal. “Saudi Arabia is spending vast amounts of money at President Trump’s hotel while at the same time pressing to limit the rights of U.S. citizens to sue the Saudi government.”
The White House declined to comment.
