Electricians who
rushed work on President Trump’s newly opened hotel in Washington, D.C., say
they are owed more than $2 million, and the contractor has filed a lawsuit to
force payment. Freestate Electrical filed the suit in D.C.
Superior Court
alleging Trump’s company asked for a rush order on the hotel before its soft
opening in September and the grand opening shortly before Election Day to
complete fire alarm and electrical work.
Trump’s company
paid $15 million on the contract, but withheld payment on the final
installment, the lawsuit says.
“Acceleration of Freestate’s work required
Freestate’s crews to work nonstop, seven days per week, 10 to 14 hours per day,
for nearly 50 consecutive days,” the lawsuit says, adding the extra work was at
the Trump company’s direction so that it could open before the election and get
positive press coverage.
The lawsuit alleges Trump’s company agreed to
pay one-third of the remaining bill, which the electricians deem
“unreasonable.” The electrical company formerly filed a lien on the hotel for
unpaid work.
“Trump’s actions in
refusing to pay for work performed, after a project has opened, is a repeated
practice of the Trump Organization on various projects; evidencing a typical
business practice meant to force subcontractors to accept ‘pennies on the
dollar,” the lawsuit alleges.
Attorneys for the electricians also took time
in the filing to point out the confusion over Trump’s continued lease with the
General Services Administration.
That 2014 lease, attached as an exhibit to the
suit and signed by Trump, says “no elected official of the Government of the
United States shall be admitted to any share or part of this Lease, or to any
benefit that may arise there from.”
Attorneys for the
Trump Organization did not immediately return a request for comment.
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