this post was submitted on 26 Feb 2024
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Miami-based CGI purchased the lease rights from the Trumps for $375 million

As Donald Trump’s real-estate empire comes under pressure from a $355 million civil-fraud verdict, one of its most recent sales looks particularly well timed.

The Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., was a favorite Republican meeting spot during the Trump presidency, attracting lobbyists, lawmakers and others with business before the administration. After the Trumps faced criticism that they were flouting government-ethics laws by profiting from the property, they put up for sale the long-term lease rights for the hotel in the former Old Post Office.

In 2022, the Trumps sold those rights to Miami-based investor CGI Merchant Group for $375 million—a price that was tens of millions of dollars more than the other offers, according to people familiar with the matter. CGI rebranded the hotel as a Waldorf Astoria.

This month, the new owner defaulted on a $285 million loan related to the property, according to people familiar with the matter. The missed payments on that loan reflect higher interest rates and the above-market price the firm paid the Trumps, industry executives say.

Non-paywall link

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[–] [email protected] 111 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (4 children)

I get that if you're a respectable newspaper you can't just put a footnote: (*) because it was money laundering

But it's weird that say the whole thing with a straight face while standing so specifically placed so they're blocking the writing on the wall that says "MONEY LAUNDERING"

[–] [email protected] 31 points 8 months ago (1 children)

because it was money laundering

I prefer to think of it as a bribe.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I thought about investing the effort to construct a Drake meme, captioned with "overpaying for real estate" "campaign contributions" "consulting fee" "fuck it here's a briefcase full of cash" with all of them set to the "accepting" Drake. But I lost my motivation before I accomplished it.

[–] Baahb 11 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

You should go back and make the effort, don't let your dreams stay dreams

[–] cybervseas 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Don't let your memes stay dreams

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

In case of Drakes... yeah, keep those in dreams.

[–] AbidanYre 19 points 8 months ago

if you're a respectable newspaper

WSJ hasn't met the criteria for that in a while. At least since Rupert bought it.

[–] Wrench 14 points 8 months ago (1 children)

That's weird. And here I thought that stating the facts without a narrative was good reporting.

I cane to the conclusion of "oh, so probably a bribe, then" from the facts. Until someone actually accuses them of crimes, it's best for the news to just highlight suspicious circumstances.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago

I think they did choose a narrative. "Prescient" is a narrative.

"Hotel formerly owner by former president now goes bankrupt" would be the more factual reporting.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 8 months ago (3 children)

That Trump stink hangs around awhile.

[–] Son_of_dad 12 points 8 months ago (1 children)

It's the adult diapers. I worked at a nursing home so I know exactly what Trump smells like

[–] empty04 3 points 8 months ago

Verified, as per Kinzinger: ”take armpits, ketchup, a butt, and makeup, and put that … in a blender”

[–] Jesusaurus 11 points 8 months ago

No matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to get it out of the carpets.

[–] Potatos_are_not_friends 10 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

They did have to have a week of cleaning and disinfecting done when Trump left the White House.

And while we want to believe it's because of Covid, we all know it's because Dirty Donnie and his Diapers.

https://www.newsweek.com/white-house-disinfected-after-trump-exit-1553725

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

The security sweep must have been intensive.

[–] Jakdracula 28 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)
[–] cm0002 13 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Woo! 10/10 on the true false game! Lmao

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

9/10. I dropped the ball on height and weight. I wasn't thinking straight...

[–] [email protected] 26 points 8 months ago

"Corruption machine stops generating money when it's no longer a corruption machine."

[–] RagingRobot 13 points 8 months ago (2 children)
[–] orclev 27 points 8 months ago

Fred Trump made his money as a NY slum lord, which isn't technically illegal even if it's scummy as hell. What was illegal though was all the tax fraud and embezzlement he committed along the way. Dude practically wrote the book on tax fraud and exploiting tax loopholes. Taught every dirty trick he knew to his kids. His daughter was a crooked judge who stepped down rather than being disbarred for, wait for it, fraudulent tax and financial transactions. Donald on the other hand was the dumber of the two, he learned all the lessons on grifting and financial crime, but never really picked up his dads business savvy that let him actually make money. Donald has just been chewing through everything Fred left him on one failed business venture after another. If the Russian mafia hadn't bailed him out in the 90s he would have been completely broke by this point.

[–] Brokkr 1 points 8 months ago

No the rapists, or rather the rape supporting family.

[–] workerONE 9 points 8 months ago (1 children)

What are lease rights? They don't own it but are entitled to collect rent for a certain amount of time?

[–] cybervseas 7 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Lease rights because the building is probably still federal, but the lessee is allowed to operate a hotel and generate revenue from the property.

[–] workerONE 6 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Looks to be like that- Trump was awarded the lease in 2012 from the General Services Administration which manages federal land. He got the lease by agreeing to invest $200 million into the property, still seems weird someone is going to pay a lease and they're going to separately pay the previous leasee (Trump) for the right to the lease.