NEW YORK (AP) – Donald Trump’s frequent campaign events in Trump Tower are attracting scrutiny from New York City officials who want to know whether he is abiding by rules requiring the building’s atrium to be open to the public.
The landmark tower’s grand marble lobby is supposed to be open to visitors from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily under an agreement that Trump struck with the city back in the late 1970s in return for the right to make the tower bigger.
City inspectors are examining whether people were barred from the space Tuesday for a Trump news conference, one of many campaign events the Republican has held in the atrium since announcing his campaign for the presidency there last June.
“We’ll investigate whether the space was closed,” said Buildings Department spokesman Joe Soldevere.
An executive and lawyer for the Trump Organization, Michael Cohen, insisted the atrium remained open.