Donald Trump Hotels Charged Secret Service More Than 5 Times the Recommended Government Rate, Records Show

The company of former President Donald Trump has reportedly charged the Secret Service more than five times the recommended government rate for agents to stay at Trump hotels while protecting him and his family.

According to The Washington Post, this was revealed in billing records that Congress recently obtained. The records showed that the Trump Organization billed the Secret Service far higher than the approved government rate in 40 cases.

In one of the cases, agents had been charged $1,185 a night to stay at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Congressional committee's review showed that U.S. taxpayers paid the Trump hotels at least $1.4 million for Secret Service agents' stays at the former president's properties while protecting him and his family.

Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney wrote to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle that "the exorbitant rates" that were charged to the agency raise "significant concerns" about Trump's "self-dealing and may have resulted in taxpayer-funded" on Trump's businesses.

The new documents showed that it contrasted with Eric Trump's claim that the family's company often gave Secret Service agents the hotel rooms "at cost" or sometimes free.

The former president's son and the Trump Organization's executive vice president disputed that their family company profited off Secret Service stays.

Secret Service Stays in Trump Hotels

One ledger showed that the Secret Service was charged $1,160 for a room at the Trump International Hotel for agents protecting Eric Trump on March 8, 2018. At the time, the government rate for D.C. on that night was $242, according to NBC News.

Another ledger showed that the Secret Service was charged $1,185 to lodge agents on November 8, 2017, protecting Donald Trump Jr. The government rate at the time was $201.

Eric released a statement on behalf of the Trump Organization, noting that the services at Trump-owned properties were "heavily discounted or for free." He added that the company did "whatever it took to accommodate" the agency agents to ensure they could do their jobs.

According to the agency's spokesperson Steve Kopek, Secret Service would address the investigation findings directly with the Congressional committee.

During his presidency, Donald Trump visited his properties 547 times, including 145 visits to Florida in the Mar-a-Lago club. Maloney said the committee is continuing to look at the full account of Secret Service spending at Trump Organization properties.

Donald Trump Business Investigations

Prosecutors in New York are also investigating the Trump Organization. New York attorney general, Letitia James, is leading the civil investigation and has spent almost three years looking at whether Donald Trump's family company has committed various acts of fraud.

BBC reported that the allegations include overstating the value of the real estate, such as golf courses and hotels, for more favorable loans and better tax rates.

Trump and his legal team maintained that the company did not operate illegally and accused James of pursuing a "political vendetta." However, Donald Trump refused to answer questions for an interview in the civil investigation and only confirmed his name.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Trump Hotels Charged Secret Service 'Exorbitant Rates,' Records Show - From CBS Evening News