Using The Secret Service To Sell A Condo In Trump Tower
Arecent email from New York real estate giant Douglas Elliman began with the subject: “Fifth Avenue Buyers Interested in Secret Service Protection?” Desperate to fill vacancies in 721 Fifth Avenue, also known as Trump Tower, the firm is using Donald Trump’s taxpayer-funded Secret Service protection to advertise a $2.1 million condo in the same building the president-elect has made his headquarters.
“The New Aminity [sic] – The United States Secret Service,” reads the email, which goes on to call the condo “The Best Value in the Most Secure Building in Manhattan”.
Politico notes the intricacies of the potential conflicts of interest for Trump, who developed the tower but has since sold most of its units:
“Trump was the developer and sponsor of Trump Tower when it was built 33 years ago, but most of the 263 units are individually owned. Trump Tower does not retain a portion of the sales but since the building is managed by Trump Corporation, it retains a processing fee for unit sales which is about $2,000 per application plus $250 per additional adult dweller, as part of its service as manager of the building. The condominium collects the common charge, but Trump manages the garage and vendors like the bar and restaurant in the building.”
Even before he won the presidency, Donald Trump has been plagued by potential conflicts of interest from his eclectic business connections. Questions arose recently when Trump made an unanticipated call to Taiwan, which experts in diplomacy have widely condemned as reckless given the still-delicate situation with China. It has since been revealed that the Trump Organization is looking into expanding their presence in the country—prompting speculation over what exactly motivated Trump to make the call in the first place.
