House Democrats launched an investigation into Vice President Mike Pence’s stay at a Trump hotel in Ireland, arguing it could have violated the Constitution’s emoluments clause.
The decision to stay at the Trump International Golf Club in Doonbeg, which was 180 miles from his meetings in Dublin, sparked outrage among Democrats.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) wrote a letter to White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and Secret Service Director James Murray Thursday requesting more information about the president’s “apparent promotion and solicitation of foreign and U.S. government business at Trump Organization or affiliated properties.”
Democrats have also taken issue with the president’s proposal to host the 2020 G-7 summit at his National Doral Golf Club outside Miami.
"The Doral and Doonbeg cases are just two of the many examples of the solicitation or receipt of foreign government spending to the benefit of the President's private financial interests," Nadler wrote. "While White House officials have repeatedly claimed it is easier for Secret Service and law enforcement to secure the President's resorts when he and the Vice President travel, there has been no confirmation by law enforcement or the Secret Service to support the practice of spending taxpayer dollars on the President's businesses."
Nadler continued: "The impact that the President's business interests may have on his official conduct and American foreign policy interests demands scrutiny by Congress-as does the use of taxpayer dollars on properties or businesses benefitting the president.”
Additionally, Elijah Cummings, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, wrote letters to the White House, Trump Organization, U.S. Secret Service and the Vice President’s Office requesting documents about the visit, including “itemized costs” associated with the stay.
“The Committee does not believe that U.S. taxpayer funds should be used to personally enrich President Trump, his family, and his companies,” Cummings wrote.
Both Democrats have given a Sept. 19 date for documents to be turned over.
Pence, for his part, called the decision to stay in Doonbeg “logical" because it's a “family hometown” that he was happy to be able to return to.
He also said the travel arrangement was “approved” by the State Department prior to booking his stay.
Pence’s great grandmother grew up in Doonbeg and his cousin currently runs a bar there.