Trump Hotel paid millions in fines shortly after the inauguration for stiffing contractors: report

Just prior to his inauguration, President Donald Trump personally intervened to resolve over $3 million in construction liens against his Washington D.C. hotel property, the Daily Beast is reporting.

According to the report, Joseph J. Magnolia, Inc., a family-owned D.C.-based company had filed a lien for $2.98 million on Dec. 21, 2016, for “the unpaid balance for work done” on the hotel, dating back to Sept. 9, 2014, for “plumbing, mechanical, and HVAC work, along with the site sewer, water, storm, and water services” per the filing.

While it was known that liens had been filed, the dollar amount had not previously been known, nor was it public knowledge that Trump stepped in at a time when his children were supposedly running the company as he assumed the presidency.

With regard to the Trump International in D.C., Magnolia’s attorney, Michael P. Darrow, said in an email to the Beast that “Trump actually called my client the day before the inauguration and they reached an agreement over the phone. So I was instructed to close out. I never was privy to the exact terms but JJM I believe got most of their $$$.”

Pressed to clarify that the "Trump" mentioned in the mail was the president, Darrow declined to comment, referring questions to John D. Magnolia, saying, “He may well be willing to chat with you, cause it’s a fascinating story.”

Magnolia, who supported Trump for president, refused to comment after inquiries from the Beast.

You can read the whole report here.