NEW YORK (AP) – Donald Trump’s new luxury hotel in Washington, D.C., has been attracting foreign envoys, special interest groups – and a bit of controversy.
One of the latest groups to book the hotel is the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank whose big donors will gather there Tuesday night for a speech from Vice President-elect Mike Pence. The group says Pence will talk about areas of focus for the Trump administration in the first 200 days and the conservative movement in general.
The Heritage Foundation said its decision to use the hotel was driven by space needs.
The Trump International Hotel has come under scrutiny by government ethics experts who worry that foreign governments, special interest groups and others will book rooms and events there to curry favor with the president-elect.
The Washington Post reported last month that about 100 foreign diplomats from around the world used the hotel for a reception just a week after the election. On December 15 an umbrella organization for Jewish groups is holding a joint Hanukkah party with the Azeri embassy there.