Former US president Donald Trump’s private company arranged for the Secret Service to pay for rooms at his properties at more than government-approved rates at least 40 times, documents released by a congressional committee show.
The documents, released this week, included two charges for more than $1,100 a room a night.
The Secret Service was charged more than $800 a night at least 11 times when agents stayed at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Mr Trump's hotel in Washington DC and other properties, the Democratic-led House oversight committee said.
It said Mr Trump made more than 500 trips to his properties while president.
The “exorbitant” rates point to a possible “taxpayer-funded windfall for Mr Trump’s struggling businesses", committee chairwoman Carolyn Maloney of New York wrote on Monday to the Secret Service, requesting more information.
The Secret Service said it had received the letter and was reviewing it.
The Trump Organisation denied that the Secret Service charges were a problem and said it provided rooms and other services at cost, at large discounts or for free.
“The Trump family is likely the first family in American history to have not profited off of the United States government,” Eric Trump said.
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This photo taken on January 6, 2021, shows Trump supporters battling with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol building in Washington. AFP -
A US House of Representatives committee has been investigating the events of January 6 and what role former US president Donald Trump played. EPA / Pool -
Reports surfaced earlier this year that Mr Trump took classified government documents with him to his private residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. AP -
Mr Trump's private residence in Mar-a-Lago. Getty Images / AFP -
Mr Trump launched his own social media site, Truth Social, following his ban from Twitter. Here, he airs grievances against Tesla head Elon Musk, who had said it was time for the former president to 'sail into the sunset'. Screengrab / Truth Social -
New York state Attorney General Letitia James says a more than three-year investigation has found evidence that the Trump Organisation misstated asset valuations to get favourable loans and tax breaks. AP -
Mr Trump and his family attend the funeral of his first wife, Ivana, in New York City. Reuters -
Mr Trump has endorsed a number of candidates for various offices since leaving office, including Joe Kent of Washington who is challenging Jaime Herrera Beutler for a House of Representatives seat. Here, Mr Kent speaks in support of people who took part in the January 6 insurrection. AP -
Mr Trump prepares to speak at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona. AP -
Georgia state senator Burt Jones prepares to speak during a rally held by Mr Trump in Commerce, Georgia. Reuters -
Mr Trump speaks at a Save America rally in Prescott, Arizona. AP -
A man poses for a photo before a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. Reuters -
Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dr Mehmet Oz, who is backed by Mr Trump, speaks during a rally in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Reuters
“President Trump funded the vast majority of his campaign with hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money and turned away billions of dollars in real estate deals worldwide.”
In total, the Trump Organisation charged the agency responsible for protecting the president and his family at least $1.4 million, Secret Service records released by the committee show.
The committee said the total bill was probably higher because the panel only received records to September 2021 and payments for trips abroad were not included.
Donald Trump has been repeatedly criticised by Democrats and government watchdogs for what they say were brazen attempts make money from taxpayer funds during his presidency.
In addition to money from the Secret Service when he and his family visited his clubs and hotels, Mr Trump played host to foreign officials at his properties, also requiring lodging for accompanying agents.
The president tried to arrange for his Trump National Doral Golf Club in Florida to be chosen as the venue for a Group of Seven meeting of global leaders, only to pull back after an outcry about self-dealing.
Among the documents released on Monday was a bill tied to 2017 trip by Trump’s oldest son, Don Jr, to the Trump International Hotel down the street from the White House.
That resulted in a Secret Service room charge of $1,185 a night, more than five times the government-approved rate, the committee said, although the agency is allowed to make exceptions.
