Donald Trump Conflict Of Interest: Does Trump Need To Give Up Washington Hotel? Controversy Brewing Ahead Of Inauguration

The General Services Administration (GSA) confirmed President-elect Donald Trump would violate his lease on a Washington, D.C., hotel if he did not release his stake before taking office, according to a statement Tuesday by Democrats in the House of Representative.

In a letter addressed to GSA chief Dennis Turner Roth, four House Democrats called on the governmental regulations agency to address what reportedly both they and the agency considered a breach of the president-elect's lease on the Trump International Hotel located at the Old Post Office Pavilion on federal land. The lease stated that "No member or delegate to Congress, or elected official of the Government of the United States" could control the property. The letter, signed by Reps. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, Peter DeFazio of Oregon, Gerald Connolly of Virginia and Andre Carson of Indiana, urged the GSA to take action on what they claim the agency had already taken a position on.

“The Deputy Commissioner informed our staff that GSA assesses that Mr. Trump will be in breach of the lease agreement the moment he takes office on Jan. 20, 2017, unless he fully divests himself of all financial interests in the lease for the Washington D.C. hotel. The Deputy Commissioner made clear that Mr. Trump must divest himself not only of managerial control, but of all ownership interest as well," the members of Congress wrote.

The letter also raised the Democrats' concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest within Trump's evolving administration. Specifically, the legislators took issue with the position of Trump's daughter, Ivanka, as a member of the president-elect's transition team, a lessee under the D.C. hotel contract and the primary contact for the GSA regarding the lease. The lawmakers then demanded further information on the property agreement.

As Trump prepares to take office next month, critics have voiced their concerns about the real estate magnate's global business connections. Trump denied that his work outside politics presented any conflict of interest with his future role as president and announced Monday he would step voluntarily leave the business world and delegate those responsibilities to his children and executives.