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Trump Hotel Received $270,000 From Lobbying Campaign Tied to Saudis
Trump Hotel Received $270,000 From Lobbying Campaign Tied to Saudis
Gulf kingdom opposes law that lets Americans sue foreign countries over terrorist attacks
Rebecca Ballhaus
June 5, 2017 6:12 p.m. ET
The Trump International Hotel in Washington Photo: Alex Brandon/Associated Press
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump’s Washington hotel received roughly $270,000 in payments linked to Saudi Arabia as part of a lobbying campaign by the Gulf kingdom against a controversial piece of terrorism legislation last year.
The payments—for catering, lodging and parking—were disclosed by the public relations firm MSLGroup last week in paperwork filed with the Justice Department documenting foreign lobbying work on behalf of Saudi Arabia and other clients.
As part of a lobbying effort against the bipartisan Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA, Saudi Arabia’s Washington lobbyists and consultants spent approximately $190,000 on lodging, $78,000 on catering, and $1,600 on parking at the Trump International Hotel. The Daily Caller website
first reported on the payments.
Mr. Trump last month made Saudi Arabia the first stop of his first international trip as president, and described the country as a key ally in the war on terror and an important partner in bringing peace and stability to the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia has been lobbying against JASTA, a law that was passed by Congress over former President Barack Obama’s veto. It allowed Americans to sue foreign governments over terrorists attacks.