Congress to investigate Trump's offer to hold G7 at one of its golf clubs

Washington (AFP)

US Democrats announced Wednesday the opening of a parliamentary inquiry into Donald Trump's proposal to host the next G7 summit in one of its Florida golf clubs, which they say is "disturbing."

"The President's personal financial interests are a clear condition of the US government's decisions," Jerry Nadler, who chairs the Judiciary Committee of the Democratic Opposition-controlled House of Representatives, denounced in a statement.

"The efforts to select the + Trump National Doral Golf Club + as the site of the 46th G7 Summit are just the latest in a troubling series of corruption and conflict of interest," he said, recalling that the US Constitution required to "separate the private interests of President Trump and his official mandate".

The commission, which is already investigating the president's cases and suspicions of obstruction of justice, will expand his efforts to include the new panel and call witnesses and White House documents, Jerry Nadler said.

Speaking on the last day of the G7 Biarritz in southwestern France, the US president, whose country will host the next G7, on Monday praised the benefits of its club Doral, near Miami, to house the 'event.

"It's a great place, it has a huge area, several hundred acres, so we can handle any event on site," the real estate developer became president.

"I'm not going to get any money at all (...) I do not care about making money," he added, wiping out questions about a possible conflict of interest.

Acquired by the businessman in 2012, the "Trump National Doral Golf Club" is featured on his site as a "tropical oasis" offering over 600 rooms, including two "presidential suites", and a grand ballroom at his name.

The Washington Post reported in June that the hotel was "much worse" than its competitors.

Golf enthusiast Donald Trump is regularly criticized for the frequent use of his resorts for official purposes.

© 2019 AFP