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The apartment was needed to provide a “downtime” facility in the Kalorama neighborhood, the source said. The neighborhood is a popular residential area for dignitaries and diplomats, in addition to the president’s daughter and son-in-law. Former President Barack Obama also has a house in the neighborhood.
The Kushner-Trump House is sizable, at 5,000 square feet, and has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. But, agents on the family’s protective detail are not entering the house, the source said, although that person neglected to say whether it was at the request of the Kushners or because of Secret Service protocol.
The source notes that the rental of the apartment was not only intended to provide a toilet, but also to serve as a rest room for officers in the area. There are also offices with internet and a printer, as well as a kitchen, where agents can refuel after long shifts and during hours when finding restaurants open in the area is difficult, said. source.
White House spokesman Judd Deere denied that the Kushners did not allow their Secret Service members to use the bathroom.
“That’s just another fake story. During discussions about protecting their home in 2017, Ivanka and Jared made it clear that their home would always be open to the amazing men and women about their details. a decision the USSS was satisfied their details sought other accommodations, ”Deere said.
“The Kushners have tremendous respect for the military in detail and for the United States Secret Service as a whole. Their home will always be open to them and they have immense gratitude for their service over the past four years. ”
When contacted for comment, Secret Service spokeswoman Justine Whelan said “the US Secret Service does not discuss protected persons.”
Later, a Secret Service spokesperson told CNN: “The Secret Service does everything possible, especially in a residence, to conduct protective operations with minimal impact on a household. In accordance with this practice, the Secret Service personnel do not request access to private residence facilities. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have not denied Secret Service personnel access to their homes to include the use of the restroom. ”
Two law enforcement officials told the Post that the facilities inside the family’s home were designated from the start as not to be used by Secret Service agents. One official told the newspaper he did not know the reason for the rule, while the other told the newspaper that it was established by Trump and Kushner.
The Post reported that the plight of the Secret Service agents was unique in that they had to secure a bathroom, a law enforcement official familiar with the situation telling the Post: “It is the first time I hear of a secret service… detail having to go to these extremes to find a bathroom. ”
The agency spent months trying to secure the facility, including a porta-pot that was taken down after neighbors complained, according to the Post.
Then, law enforcement officials told the newspaper that officers began using the bathrooms in a garage turned into a command post at Obama’s home used by his security guard. That option came to an end when the Obama detail banned the Trump / Kushner detail after a secret service supervisor of the latter “left a nasty inconvenience” in that bathroom on a date prior to the fall. 2017, the newspaper reported, citing a person briefed on the event.
Officers then began traveling to Vice President Mike Pence at the Naval Observatory about a mile away to use a bathroom there or use the facilities at local restaurants, officials said. law enforcement at the Post.
In September 2017, agents contacted Kay Kendall, who is chair of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, lives in the neighborhood and owns a house across from the Trump / Kushner family, she told the Post.
The house has a basement with a bathroom, and when she asked her current tenant – former Connecticut Rep Anthony “Toby” Moffett Jr. – if she could separate it, he agreed in exchange for reduced rent, Moffett told the Publish.
The list of properties leased by the General Service Administration includes one property on the same street as the Trump / Kushner family resides.
Law enforcement officials told the Post that Kushner / Trump retail agents approved the studio, with natural light and a bathroom.
“It hasn’t been a problem,” Moffett told the newspaper. “They were very nice to our grandchildren.”
CNN’s Maegan Vazquez contributed to this report.
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