Pelosi Accuses Trump of Self-Dealing Over Plan to Rebuild FBI HQ
Democrats accuse President of pressing Senate Republicans
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused President Donald Trump of self-dealing for pressing Senate Republicans to include $1.75 billion to rebuild the FBI headquarters in downtown Washington in their coronavirus relief proposal.
Democrats assume Trump is pushing the rebuild the FBI headquarters in downtown D.C., so it doesn't relocate from its space on 9th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Democrats suspect the real estate could be occupied by a new hotel, which could compete with the Trump International Hotel just across the road.
“They don’t have money for food stamps, but they have money for an FBI building just so that they can diminish competition for the president’s hotel,” Pelosi said.
Pelosi later said she wishes to refurbish the FBI headquarters on Pennsylvania Avenue “so that nobody could build a hotel across the street” from the Trump International Hotel.
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Schumer also joined in.
“They managed to have enough money for $2 billion for the FBI headquarters that benefits Trump hotel, and they say they have no money for food assistance," Schumer said.
"What the heck is going on?” he asked.
“We just found out it was in it as we read it,” he said, explaining the surprise of discovering the FBI provision embedded in the GOP proposal.
“No, No, No.” Pelosi Has Hostile Tantrum, Bullies Reporter Who Dares To Question The Process
— Neon Nettle (@NeonNettle) July 27, 2020
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Pelosi and Schumer then asked senior White House officials about rebuilding the FBI headquarters.
On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said during a press conference that he was not aware the money for the FBI headquarters was included.
“You’ll have to ask them why they insisted that be included,” he said.
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Committee Chairman Richard Shelby said:
“This is an administration proposal to move on with the FBI."
"They need a new FBI building. It's not safe to work in, and they’re talking about downsizing it anyway."
The senior GOP lawmaker acknowledged the “link” between the pandemic and the demand for a new FBI headquarters is a “stretch.”
But Pelosi is no stranger to sneaking things into coronavirus bills.
Earlier this year, the Democratic House Speaker was caught trying to sneak loopholes for abortion funding into a bill for coronavirus measures.
Pelosi sought to include measures in the coronavirus economic stimulus plan that would potentially guarantee federal funding for abortion, according to multiple senior White House officials.
