A top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee officially requested a probe of the several instances in the past year in which military personnel opted to stay overnight at President Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in Scotland.
In a letter to the Glenn Fine, who is currently taking on the Pentagon inspector general role, Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) asked the IG’s office to review whether the frequent Air Force stays were in line with “all relevant laws, regulations and policies” as well as ethical guideline.
“I am disturbed by the growing number of those in government willing to engage in questionable taxpayer funded travel to and lodging at properties owned by the President — properties from which President Trump can draw income at any time,” Peters said in the letter. “The American people deserve an independent inquiry into the Air Force’s increasingly frequent visits to Prestwick Airport, as well as answers to how many of those visits involved stays at Trump Turnberry by military personnel.”
Politico has been first to report in recent weeks about the frequency of visits by members of the Air Force to Trump Turnberry. Military personnel who stopped to refuel at the Prestwick Airport in Scotland have sought accommodations at the Trump resort at least four times in the past year. The Air Force is currently conducting its own review of the decisions.
The New York Times reported earlier this week that the Trump Organization has a years-old agreement with the local airport to direct flight crews to stay at his resort. Trump has denied any knowledge of or influence on the Air Force’s hospitality decisions.
Read Peters’ letter below:
