Government Accountability Office to Examine Cost, Security of Trump Florida Mar-a-Lago Trips

[SirLinksALot]

SOURCE: NBC NEWS VIA AP

URL: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/government-accountability-office-examine-cost-security-trump-florida-trips-n739786


WASHINGTON — A government watchdog will examine the taxpayer-funded travel costs when President Donald Trump travels to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and the security procedures surrounding those trips, several congressional Democrats announced Tuesday.

The lawmakers requested the inquiry by the Government Accountability Office after reports that Trump, accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, openly discussed North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile while at the resort. They also raised concerns about the cost to taxpayers.

In a March 24 letter to the lawmakers, GAO said it will examine how the president's communications and classified information are secured when he's traveling, including whether a secure space exists at Mar-a-Lago.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump and other Republicans sharply criticized Democrat Hillary Clinton for compromising national security by using a private email server. Democrats have seized on Trump's Feb. 11 visit to Mar-a-Lago with Abe as an example of what they say is Trump's own carelessness with sensitive information.

In a letter sent to GAO last month seeking the review, the lawmakers said Trump reportedly communicated with staff about North Korea's launch by cellphone while sitting with Abe in the middle of a public dining room. Trump, his staff and Abe also may have reviewed potentially sensitive national material in apparent violation of protocols, according to the Democrats.

"In addition to making sensitive phone calls in the dining room, aides reportedly used the camera lights on their cellphones to help President Trump and Prime Minister Abe view the documents — all while surrounded by Mar-a-Lago club members and wait staff," the Democrats wrote in their letter to GAO.

"By conducting discussions in this manner, the president enabled private citizens without security clearances to potentially overhear sensitive or classified national security information," they said.

GAO also will examine what measures, if any, the Secret Service and Defense Department have to ensure that charges for travel-related expenses incurred with providing protecting for trips to Mar-a-Lago are fair and reasonable. The Air Force operates the presidential aircraft, commonly known as Air Force One.

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[SirLinksALot]

RE:

Trump reportedly communicated with staff about North Korea's launch by cellphone while sitting with Abe in the middle of a public dining room.

Notice folks, the clever use of the word "reportedly". Reported by WHO?

I could also say Obama was reportedly born in Kenya and that would be just as legitimate.

[montanajoe]

RE:
Notice folks, the clever use of the word "reportedly". Reported by WHO?

I could also say Obama was reportedly born in Kenya and that would be just as legitimate.

Say what? Certainty you're not implying that Obama was not born in Kenya..

[Victoria33]

I read after the incident in his restaurant, with club members there, the rules were changed and no members can go to Mar-a-Lago when Trump is there.

[truth_seeker]

Combine dumbed down America, biased media, and everything seems like a first time occurrence, and a big story.

We actually HAVE had Presidents before, that actually owned their own properties and visited them.

Clinton didn't, but even Obama did. However Chicago is not a resort, apparently.

Anyway Nixon and Reagan had their California resort location homes, and somehow the government provided security.

And often Presidents travel without their spouses, meaning they need security in TWO locations. This is not much different.

Leave it to the highly biased media, to make a big deal out of nothing, and for democrat lawmakers to be in league.

And of course the ever present #nevertrump contingent.

[Stosh]

If the moonbat Dems weren't constantly sending death threats and staging "demonstrations" AKA riots, security wouldn't be so much an issue.

[jmyrlefuller]

So, as I suspected, the government hasn't actually measured how much it costs, and all those numbers the left is throwing out about the cost are made up out of thin air. What a surprise.

[INVAR]

It's so very interesting how these same turds were completely unconcerned how much all the separate flights by the Obamas to countless 'vacations' and golfing excursions cost us.