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The problem for the affluent little town of Palm Beach was Trump’s promise long ago not to call Mar-a-Lago home. Trump bought the old estate from Marjorie Merriweather Post in 1985 and turned it into a members-only club in 1993.
To turn the private residence into an income-generating business, he had to accept certain limitations, based on guidelines touted as Palm Beach’s deal breakers. This agreement stipulated that members could not live at the club for more than 21 days per year. The former president’s neighbors have complained to the city that Trump had violated the deal he signed.
City attorney John “Skip” Randolph informed the board that the key issue was not the deal, which he said was silent on whether Trump could reside at the club. Rather, he says, the question is whether Trump is an employee of the club. City zoning allows a “bona fide club employee” to live in clubs where they work or own.
Trump’s longtime lawyer in West Palm Beach called the whole affair “stupid” because after Trump left the Oval Office last month he resumed his “presidency of Mar-a-Lago.”
Lawyer John Marion argued to the board that there was nothing in the agreement prohibiting Trump from living at the club, adding that “the zoning code says he also has the right to live there “. He presented documentation to the board, signed by Trump on January 25, 2021, to verify that Trump was again president of Mar-a-Lago.
“There is no prohibition in there for the owner to use the owner’s suite,” Marion said. “This guy (Trump), as he wanders around the property, is like the mayor of Mar-a-Lago, if you will.”
“He is always present, he owns the property and enjoys it at home,” added Marion. “There is no reason in the world that President Trump cannot reside in the club he owns.”
Trump’s lawyer went on to list the duties the former president performed while living and working at the club, saying he “assesses employee performance” and attends “events held at the club and welcomes / thanks attendees” .
An attorney for one of Trump’s neighbors and the first to urge the city to look into the matter so they can return to “peaceful life,” Roger Stambaugh told the council: “My clients urge city council to respect the issue. user agreement created with Mar-a-Lago in 1993. “
A representative of a group of residents of Palm Beach Island expressed concern about the property’s draw for supporters of the former president.
“We believe this issue threatens to make Mar-a-Lago a permanent beacon for its most rabid lawless supporters,” lawyer Philip Johnston told the council.
Johnston has asked the board to postpone its decision on whether Trump is a bona fide employee of the club to give all parties an opportunity to prepare a legal response.
The council made no decision on the matter on Tuesday. He is expected to revisit the matter in the spring.
“It’s a very discouraged place,” Laurence Leamer, historian and author of “Mar-a-Lago: Inside the Gates of Power at Donald Trump’s Presidential Palace,” told MSNBC last month. He said members are “not concerned about politics and they said the food was not good.”
Leamer said he spoke to a number of former members who “walked out in silence” after Trump left.
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