House report accuses Trump of overcharging Secret Service

A newly released report from House Democrats reveals how Donald Trump’s presidency became a platform for personal financial gain. The twice-impeached former president allegedly profited from the U.S. Secret Service and other government entities that paid inflated rates at his properties. The report details how Trump’s Washington, D.C., hotel regularly overcharged the Secret Service while agents protected him, his family, and foreign dignitaries—a practice that Democrats say violated the Constitution’s Domestic Emoluments Clause.From September 2017 to August 2018, Trump’s hotel in Washington billed the Secret Service for more than 200 rooms over 50 separate nights. The rates charged were often far above the authorized government per diem, with the report highlighting multiple instances where the Secret Service paid 300% or more than standard rates. In one case, during a stay by Eric Trump and his wife, Lara Trump, in November 2017, the Secret Service was charged $600 per room, while the per diem was $201. On the same night, other guests paid significantly less, including a Chinese business interest.“These payments reveal hundreds of unconstitutional and ethically suspect transactions Trump accepted while in office from domestic sources—including a federal agency, numerous federal and state officials, and individuals who sought and frequently...