Trump Turnberry: US Congress launches investigation into Prestwick Airport deals

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

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?

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.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Mick

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?

[nomadking]

From OPs link

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

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.

[jfman]

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

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

Originally Posted by nomadking

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

That’s exactly the question!

This is a non-story.

[Carth]

Originally Posted by Mick

This is a non-story.

Most of them are Mick, what a waste of bandwidth

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by jfman

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.

Originally Posted by nomadking

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?

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by Hugh

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. They're all south of Birmingham.

[jfman]

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

Smacks of corruption.

Originally Posted by nomadking

Not after driving over 300 miles each way to reach them. 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.

[nomadking]

Link

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

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

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

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

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

“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

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.

[jfman]

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 ----------

Originally Posted by Hugh

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.

It's a slam dunk case of obvious corruption.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by jfman

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 ----------

It's a slam dunk case of obvious corruption.

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.

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.