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Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-49621836#

Quote:

A US Congressional committee is investigating President Donald Trump in connection with a potential conflict of interest over military spending at a Scottish airport near his golf resort.

The House Oversight and Reform Committee says expenditure at Prestwick airport has "increased substantially" since Mr Trump came into office.

The debt-ridden airport has been fighting off closure.

It is said to be integral to the Trump business, which is also loss-making.

The committee's accusations are detailed in a letter to the Pentagon - which is dated to June but was only revealed on the Politico website on Friday.

How did they keep this quiet that long?

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Who cares?

Surely keeping the airport open, keeping staff employed is a good thing. As per usual it’s a pathetic Democrat con game. They need to investigate themselves, many of them are millionaires, on congressional salaries... gimme a break.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick (Post 36009334)

Who cares?

Surely keeping the airport open, keeping staff employed is a good thing. As per usual it’s a pathetic Democrat con game. They need to investigate themselves, many of them are millionaires, on congressional salaries... gimme a break.

Socialism is good, as long as it supports Trump?

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

From OPs link

Quote:

The Scottish government bought it for £1 in 2013, when it was facing closure.

Quote:

Air Force One seen at Prestwick Airport during the president's 2018 visit

They were there on official business. They're not going to search around everywhere for the nearest petrol station when they have one to hand.

Standard business practice is to offer deals for a big event.

Unless Trump personally insisted they stay there and there are plenty of other suitable hotels in the area, there really is nothing to see here, as per usual.

Anyone would think Trump was sending people there for random reasons.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

I’m sure Air Force One wasn’t refuelled 629 times.

---------- Post added at 11:44 ---------- Previous post was at 11:43 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking (Post 36009344)

Anyone would think Trump was sending people there for random reasons.

That’s exactly the question!

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

This is a non-story.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick (Post 36009361)

This is a non-story.

Most of them are Mick, what a waste of bandwidth ;)

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36009347)

I’m sure Air Force One wasn’t refuelled 629 times.

---------- Post added at 11:44 ---------- Previous post was at 11:43 ----------

That’s exactly the question!

But vehicles used for preparations and for the visit, will have.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking (Post 36009370)

But vehicles used for preparations and for the visit, will have.

I wonder why they didn't use one of USAF bases in the UK, as the fuel would be cheaper there?

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36009371)

I wonder why they didn't use one of USAF bases in the UK, as the fuel would be cheaper there?

Not after driving over 300 miles each way to reach them.:rolleyes: They're all south of Birmingham.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

All looks murky to me. If these were essential to US operations why the increase after a Trump became President?

Smacks of corruption.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking (Post 36009374)

Not after driving over 300 miles each way to reach them.:rolleyes: They're all south of Birmingham.

We’re talking about planes here - they don’t drive planes on roads...

A specific case is that a USAF C-17 stopped over at Prestwick, and the crew stayed at Trump Turnberry, when it was going and from Kuwait to deliver supplies - they would normally have refuelled/layed over at one of the USAF bases.

On previous trips to the Middle East, the C-17 had landed at U.S. air bases such as Ramstein Air Base in Germany or Naval Station Rota in Spain to refuel.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Link

Quote:

In an effort to stem its losses, Prestwick executives have attended military fairs across the US to pursue contracts to service cargo flights, troop transports and air-to-air refueling operations for the US Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, National Guard and the US Defense Logistics Agency.
Official memos seen by the Guardian show Prestwick has won these contracts with the knowledge of Scottish government ministers, including Keith Brown, the economy secretary, both while Trump was the Republican presidential candidate and since he became president.

All happening BEFORE and REGARDLESS of him becoming President.
Link

Quote:

Glasgow Prestwick Airport has been providing aviation services to the military for almost 80 years. With no PPR or slot restrictions, Glasgow Prestwick Airport offers the perfect location for crew rest, fuel stop and training for any size of aircraft at any time of the day.
...
Glasgow Prestwick Airport offers a dedicated and discreet military FBO located within a few meters of the apron with highly skilled staff on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Facilities include rest areas, washrooms, lounge, briefing rooms, complimentary refreshments, entertainment areas and Wi-Fi. Flight plan & weather packages are also available.

So absolutely a non-story and going on before Trump was President.
Link

Quote:

Glasgow Prestwick Airport is the only place in the United Kingdom where Elvis Presley (who had distant Scottish ancestry) was known to have set foot, when the United States Air Force transport plane carrying him home to the United States stopped to refuel in 1960, en route from Germany

So was Trump responsible for that back in 1960?

2015

Quote:

The US air force, which has servicing and re-fuelling contracts with Prestwick Airport, also use the Canadian-made planes, but Prestwick Airport said the jet had not been in touch on Tuesday.

2006

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Shortly after 11pmSaturday night, four peace activists entered Prestwick airport to conduct a Citizens’ Weapons Inspection, in the light of public concerns about the transport of weapons from the United States to Israel via UK territory. They observed one US Air Force plane on the tarmac, and four Atlas cargo planes landed during the time they were present in the area.

Feb 2018

Quote:

“Handling private and military flights has always been a part of Glasgow Prestwick airport’s business.”
A year ago Ron Smith, chief executive of Prestwick at the time, talked openly about the airport’s intention to target military business. He said: “The volume of military movements flying across the Atlantic each and every day is vast and the ongoing trend for closures of military airfields across Europe is pushing more and more of this business into those commercial airports approved to handle military aircraft.

Link

Quote:

The Air Force spokesman told the New York Times in a statement Saturday that it is common for military flights to stop in Scotland. He added that on that night there were no better alternatives.
For example, the Trump property had a $ 136 daily allowance, compared to neighboring Marriott's $ 161. He added that the maximum allowable amount was $ 166 and that the crew used the Marriott property on the return trip.
"As our flight crews serve on these international airlift missions, they follow strict hotel accommodation contract guidelines and all taxpayer dollars," Brigadier Edward Edward wrote. "In this case, they made reservations through the Defense Travel System and used the closest available and the cheapest accommodations for the airport within the crew's permissible hotel rates. " ] AP

The 629 fuel purchases had nothing to do with the golf course.

Sinister goings on here and in the US.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

It doesn't really matter if the Marriott was more expensive if there was no need to be in Scotland at all. They still have to justify the operational requirements and the increased spend.

---------- Post added at 15:56 ---------- Previous post was at 15:54 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36009380)

It's a slam dunk case of obvious corruption.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36009387)

Only a handful of USAF staff ever stay at Turnberry. It was going on BEFORE Trump took office. The Royal Canadian Air Force also use Prestwick. Along with the German,French, Swiss, and Belgian Military. Planespotters at the airport have photos. They go back to 2003.

Quote:

A representative of the Trump Organization told the New York Times that military personnel have sometimes stayed at Trump Turnberry, but only once a year.

The deal for USAF to use Prestwick was signed under Obama.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

So why the increase?

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36009407)

So why the increase?

What increase? Is the "increase" in flights an overall one? Prestwick is the first stop after coming over the Atlantic. It is a fog-free airport which will give it an edge.
Link

Quote:

The airfield has one of the best weather records in Europe, and often remains open when other airports around the country are closed.
...
The airport remains an important stopover site for American aircraft en-route to other destinations in Europe and the Middle East.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

An utter irrelevance really. If that was the rationale for the increase why has the increase happened since Trump took office?

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36009411)

An utter irrelevance really. If that was the rationale for the increase why has the increase happened since Trump took office?

What increase? Is the "increase" in general transatlantic flight operations or a change of refuelling stop? That includes civilian planes operating under military contracts. The contract to use Prestwick as a refuelling stop was signed under Obama. There must've been an obvious and continuing need in order for them to sign that contract. It was signed not long before Trump took office, so any increase was expected anyway.

Quote:

The routine airlift mission was on a C-17 shared by the Air Force and the Alaska Air National Guard at the Anchorage base. The crew on this flight consisted of seven active-duty Air Force and Alaska Air National Guard members.
The flight took off from Anchorage on March 13, making stops at bases in Nevada and New Hampshire before going to Glasgow Prestwick Airport and eventually Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait. The crew was back in Alaska on March 19.
A local government contractor made the Scotland reservations, and indicated there was not a room closer to the airport than the Trump resort, 54 miles away, Thomas said.

Prestwick is the first stop after coming over the Atlantic and the last before crossing back.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

I can't work out if you've accepted there's an increase of not. Until you accept reality there's no point debating further when this matter is obviously worthy of investigation.

If it's all innocent I'm sure a clear audit trail will demonstrate this.

I'm not sure what relevance being the first/last stop is. Presumably these planes have adequate range to reach the multiple US air force bases or NATO bases in Europe without the need to use a commercial airport just up the road from a Trump resort.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/...-probe-1485447

Good to see the US Air Force taking this seriously.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36009460)

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/...-probe-1485447

Good to see the US Air Force taking this seriously.

But they're not are they, it's simply a review. They even state nothing untoward or illegal has happened :p:

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36009465)

But they're not are they, it's simply a review. They even state nothing untoward or illegal has happened :p:

If they are reviewing that means there's been something unexpected or unanticipated has happened.

I don't expect the US Air Force to accuse anyone of criminality. That'll be Congress when the time comes.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36009468)

Congress doesn’t determine someone’s criminality, it holds investigations but it has absolutely no teeth in charging anyone with a crime. They either appoint a Special Prosecutor who can, or refer people to the Department of Justice/FBI.

But here is what’s really happening.... the currently Democrat controlled congress, is being political in opening investigation after investigation, because it’s Trump, because they know their hoax Russia collusion narrative failed spectacularly. :rolleyes:

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick (Post 36009469)

Essentially such referral is an accusation or criminality.

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36009468)

If they are reviewing that means there's been something unexpected or unanticipated has happened.

They're reviewing it because - yet again - someone with an axe to grind (Trump hater) has complained about something irrelevant and the 'media' are all over it 'sigh'.
It's simply wasting more time & money to satisfy disgruntled people . . . quite like the Brexit fiasco to be honest

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

I doubt it's a crime. However if there was evidence of the President, or people trying to win favour with the President, directing governments resources to his private businesses that would normally be seen as pretty corrupt.

Most Presidents do not maintain private business interests upon become President for that reason. Imagine the Republican reaction if Obama had owned a hotel and suddenly US Government spending there had drastically increased? Are you really telling me that wouldn't be an issue?

Re: Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

Not qwhite the same, is it?