CREW requests SBA records on Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
CREW requests:
- Copies of Administrator Linda McMahon’s remarks at the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (“LABI”) event at the Trump International Hotel – Washington, D.C. on September 13, 2017;
- Copies of any documents received by Administrator McMahon and/or staff during the September 13, 2017, LABI meeting at the Trump International Hotel – Washington D.C.;
- Copies of any documents describing the attendees at the September 13, 2017 LABI meeting at the Trump International Hotel – Washington, D.C., the agenda of the meeting, and/or any planned follow-up actions by SBA;
- Copies of any photos and/or video from the September 13, 2017 LABI meeting at the Trump International Hotel – Washington, D.C.;
- Copies of any records documenting payments made by SBA to the Trump International Hotel – Washington, D.C.; in relation to the September 13, 2017, LABI meeting;
- Copies of any communications to or from Administration McMahon related to the September 13, 2017, LABI meeting at the Trump International Hotel – Washington, D.C; and
- Copies of any communications to or from SBA communications and/or social media staff related to the three tweets about the September 13, 2017, LABI meeting posted on Administrator McMahon’s official Twitter account.
On September 13, 2017, Administrator McMahon posted three tweets on her official Small Business Association Twitter account documenting her appearance at a Louisiana Association of Business and Industry meeting in Washington, D.C. In her tweets, Administrator McMahon wrote that at the meeting she was “[s]peaking to business owners from Lousiana about how resources from @SBAgov can help them grow,” “[e]xplaining to @LABI_biz how @SBAgov helps with disaster recovery,” and “[s]haring goals with Louisiana business owners about #taxreform & how @SBAgov is working to help entrepreneurs succeed.”
The requested records would shed light on what Administrator McMahon discussed with the attendees and increase public knowledge about how SBA communicates with corporate stakeholders in private about public policy. The requested records would also inform the public about how SBA considered the appropriateness of Administrator McMahon attending an event at the Trump International Hotel – Washington, D.C., which is majority owned by President Donald Trump through a trust. The president’s refusal to divest from his business interests has raised significant questions about conflicts of interest and the Trump International Hotel – Washington, D.C. “has become a symbol of the tangled ethical questions posed by Trump’s presidency.”
Update: On January 18, 2018, the SBA responded to this FOIA request by releasing documents relating to #1, 3, 4, 6, and 7. SBA claims it has no documents responsive to #2 and #5. Click here to read the responsive documents.