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WASHINGTON – Since President Trump took office, people in Washington and the blue suburbs and activists everywhere have found many ways, some more creative than others, to express their anger at him. The Trump International Hotel, located just down Pennsylvania Avenue in the White House, is a reliable target.
Business owners and ethics lawyers have targeted the hotel with a series of regular lawsuits. Others have projected a steady stream of provocative messages – including the less subtle charge than "Emoluments Welcome" – directly on the facade of the building.
The latest protest attempt against the president targeting the hotel took place Wednesday, as Trump was preparing to welcome Republican donors to the hotel. A group of citizens – with the help of lawyers and the financial backing of Arizona Republican Jerry Hirsch, president of the Lodestar Foundation – asked the Columbia District Alcohol Control Board to verify whether the president had met the city's good character "test to hold an alcohol permit.
The initial 27-page complaint was filed in June and was marked by footnotes of ethical violations – although the complaint states that "the number of such lies is too long to be recorded". dozens of pages as the news surrounding the Trump White House unfolded.
Michael D. Cohen, Mr. Trump's personal attorney, who admitted in August that he made illegal payments to women during the 2016 campaign who claimed to have affairs with Mr. Trump, resulted in a new agreement. or then pages of reading material for the board.
"This brings to the commission evidence of Mr. Trump's criminal conduct," said Joshua A. Levy, a lawyer who filed a complaint on behalf of the residents, in an interview. "This may not give rise to an indictment, but it's certainly a proof of bad character."
Joan Goldfrank, a former investigating judge, was one of seven residents, including several clergy, who signed the complaint, which exhaustively documents accusations of racism, deception and misconduct. sexual assault brought against the president.
"It's such a local thing," Ms. Goldfrank said. "You want the children of this city to understand that no matter who you are, if you get something that is granted by the government, if you have a privilege, you must respect it and honor it."
None of this has had much effect. In the end, the board unanimously declined to act on the complaint and decided to review the case until next spring. The group also said it would consider an allegation that the hotel would have served alcohol to a minor.
On Wednesday, the Trump Organization did not postpone efforts and did not comment on the council's decision, with the exception of three American emojis sent by email from Mr. Trump's son, Eric.
The non-emoji argument made in the past by Trump's lawyers and members of the Trump Organization – and one of the lawyers rejected by the ethics lawyers – was that Mr. Trump was distancing himself from the cases against they were advertising stunts.
In the past, the Trump Organization has denounced legal issues, including a complaint filed last year by Diane Gross and Khalid Pitts, owners of the Cork Wine Bar, who claimed that the hotel was taking business from them. The lawsuit of the pair offered some options for resolution: The hotel could stop operating, Mr. Trump and his family could separate completely from the company, or Mr. Trump could resign from his position.
At the time, the company called the trial an "unfounded publicity stunt," and Trump's lawyers said the president was immune from such court challenges.
The activists targeted Wednesday one of the most profitable areas of the hotel. Last June, documents accidentally posted by the General Services Administration showed that the Trump organization had made a profit of $ 2 million over the first four months of the year. According to these documents, the hotel remained at an occupancy rate of 45%, but profits from catering services exceeded the company's expectations by around 200%.
Mr. Levy, the lawyer, said after the committee had decided not to proceed with the revocation of the hotel's liquor license that he would be back at the end of the week with a letter explaining why he was was a bad decision.
At the White House, Mr. Trump is prepared to welcome supporters to his hotel. An invitation sent to supporters announced the opportunity to attend a roundtable with the president at $ 100,000 per person.
For $ 35,000 each, couples could have their picture taken with Mr. Trump.
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