Washington (CNN) A new General Services Administration report obtained by CNN downplays the importance of a January 2018 Oval Office meeting to discuss the location of a new FBI headquarters in the decision to rebuild the headquarters in Washington rather than move it to a suburban location.

The document, which has been handed over to Congress, says the FBI and GSA's decision to keep the FBI headquarters at its present address in downtown DC was "effectively settled" before a January 24, 2018 meeting with President Donald Trump. It was written by the GSA in response to questions from several Democratic chairman of House committees who had raised concerns about the decision.

Democrats are interested in the White House's role in the decision because the alternative option of relocating the FBI headquarters to a suburban DC location called for selling the prime downtown property it currently occupies across from the Trump International Hotel.

Renovating the existing J. Edgar Hoover building or rebuilding on the same site "prevent(s) Trump Hotel competitors from acquiring the land," Rep. Elijah Cummings, who is now chairman of the House Oversight Committee, wrote in an October letter.

The document's release comes ahead of scheduled testimony by the GSA administrator, Emily Murphy, before a House committee on Wednesday.

Read More