As Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I take my constitutional duty to conduct oversight of federal agencies under my jurisdiction extremely seriously. This includes the agency which oversees the Old Post Office building in Washington D.C. which houses the Trump Hotel.

Recent news reports significantly mischaracterize our ongoing investigation and the aggressive oversight actions that we have already taken.

Before President Trump was sworn into office, I raised alarms about the myriad of constitutional legal and ethical conflicts with the Trump Hotel lease, the relocation of the FBI headquarters, and the president's opportunity to enrich himself, his businesses, and his associates.

In November of 2016, I began demanding answers. Despite stonewalling by the administration, my Committee's team of investigative and oversight experts have been aggressively conducting interviews, making records requests, and pursuing the facts on behalf of our country. We will hold President Trump and his administration accountable for any self-dealing and unethical behavior.

We are continuing our oversight duties, with a hearing on the Old Post Office building on September 25, at which I plan to demand answers and learn more.

President Trump is a danger to our national security, our economy, and a threat to our representational democracy. There is a new account of the president's abuse of power on the daily. That's why I've called for a formal impeachment inquiry against President Trump. If my committee uncovers any illegal or impeachable offenses, you can guarantee that I will refer them to the Judiciary Committee.

We are living in extremely dark and difficult times in our nation's history. I am deeply disturbed by the actions of this president and am dedicated to holding him accountable.

More soon,

Peter

Summary of T&I Committee oversight actions:

During Republican Control of the House

• November 2016: DeFazio and Subcommittee Ranking Member Andre Carson join Oversight & Government Reform Ranking Members Cummings and Connolly in sending a letter to then-Administrator Roth requesting information about how the GSA plans to address the imminent breach-of-lease and conflict of interest issues created by President-elect Donald Trump's lease with the U.S. Government for the Trump International Hotel building.
• January 23, 2017: DeFazio joins House Oversight & Government Reform Ranking Member Cummings in sending a letter to GSA Acting Administrator Timothy Horne requesting that GSA re-evaluate the Old Post Office lease agreement, an explanation of the steps GSA had taken or planned to take in response to the alleged breach of contract, and copies of notices sent to Trump Old Post Office, LLC concerning the breach of lease or notices sent in response to the public reports of construction liens filed against the Old Post Office building unredacted monthly reports of both the revenues and expenses for the Trump International Hotel any correspondence that GSA had with Trump Old Post Office, LLC or the Trump transition team regarding the Trump International Hotel.
• February 9, 2017: Response letter from GSA declined to provide any substantive information requested.
• March 2017: In-person staff briefing on the lease following GSA contract officer's decision that the lease was in compliance.
• March 7, 2017: DeFazio and Subcommittee Ranking Member Hank Johnson send letter to GSA IG requesting an investigation into the management and administration of the Old Post Office lease agreement with the Trump Organization.
• April 6, 2017: DeFazio and Johnson join Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Ranking Member Carper and Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Cardin demanding an explanation of why the information requested by Ranking Members had not been provided by GSA. The letter requested an explanation for this partisan change in policy, which officials provided this guidance, and whether the White House or any other federal agency provided instruction on this matter.
• June 12, 2017: DeFazio and Hank Johnson send letter to GSA Acting Administrator Timothy Horne requesting response to previous letters.
• July 2017: Democrats on T&I had sent five letters to GSA requesting documents related to the Old Post Office lease; GSA failed to provide most of the information requested.
• July 12, 2017: Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management hearing: Ranking Member DeFazio repeatedly asks Acting GSA Administrator Timothy Horne to answer questions about the administration and management of the Old Post Office lease agreement. Horne was not able to answer DeFazio's questions and some of Horne's responses directly countered testimony from other GSA officials testifying before the Senate on the same day.
• July 12, 2017: Ranking Member DeFazio and Subcommittee Ranking Member Hank Johnson release Democratic staff report titled "Breach of a Lease: The Tale of the Old Post Office in the Swamp" detailing GSA's complete failure to administer the OPO lease agreement in accordance with the terms of the lease.

Ranking Members DeFazio and Johnson introduce a Resolution of Inquiry to force GSA to produce:

• All guidance or direction to the Acting Administrator or other GSA staff regarding responses to requests for information from Members of Congress and Ranking Members of Committees;
• All documents associated with the OPO lease agreement between the Government and the Trump Organization, including annual statements, budgets, mortgage agreements, and claims; and
• All legal memoranda or opinions regarding the OPO lease agreement.

Due to Republicans continued refusal to conduct oversight on the Trump Organization's lease, DeFazio lost the vote on the "Resolution of Inquiry" and the resolution was reported unfavorably to the floor with no subsequent action.

• January 16, 2019: GSA IG releases report finding that GSA did not consider the emoluments clause in advance of a GSA contracting officer certifying the new organizational structure put in place by President Trump.
• January 22, 2019: Chairman DeFazio and Chair Titus send a letter to GSA Administrator Emily Murphy requesting records and answers to questions from previous letters.
• February 12, 2019: GSA responds to DeFazio/Titus Jan. 22 request with responsive documents and begins rolling productions to the Committee; to date the Committee has received thousands of pages of documents from GSA but there are still outstanding categories of documents that GSA has withheld.