Four years later, Trump still hasn’t paid the city’s $8,500 bill for the additional police officers, firefighters and rescue personnel that were required to work that night.
Meanwhile, Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign is in full swing. He’s raised more than $200 million since 2017, including a $46 million haul during the fourth quarter of 2019, according to the campaign and finance disclosure filings.
Even before he was elected, city officials wanted Trump to pay up — but had little reason to think he would. In June 2016, the city decided against suing the Trump campaign over the bill, saying in a press release that it would not be “cost effective for the City to pursue collections remedies through the courts.”
“Paying the invoice remains the right and honorable thing for Mr. Trump to do,” Mayor Miro Weinberger said in a statement at the time.
At the time, Weinberger blasted the Trump campaign for its “dramatic over-ticketing of the rally.” The Flynn could only hold 1,400 people, but the campaign gave away thousands more. Weinberger said the campaign’s lack of communication with the city and the public “put undue strain on the City’s police, and unnecessarily hurt downtown businesses.”
Two former White House denizens have an even older outstanding bill with the Queen City. The Obamas owe Burlington nearly $5,900 for campaign events held during their second term, according to city records.
Then-first lady Michelle Obama held two fundraisers in Vermont in June 2011, including one at the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain that cost $5,000 per person or $10,000 per couple to attend. The city billed the campaign $2,064 for police services, according to Weinberger spokesperson Olivia LaVecchia.
In March 2012, then-president Barack Obama wooed a crowd of 4,400 at the University of Vermont’s Patrick Gymnasium on his reelection tour, raising an estimated $750,000, Seven Days reported then. Burlington police billed $2,816 for the 10 officers who provided traffic control and security; the fire department asked for a $1,015 reimbursement. All bills remain unpaid, LaVecchia said Tuesday.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), however, did pay his $858 bill for his May 2015 presidential campaign kickoff on the Burlington waterfront, which required four police officers and two firefighter/EMTs.
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No fan of Trump but shouldn’t the headline read “Over Eight Years Later Obama’s Still Owe Burlington for Rally’s “.
Has Seven Days ever asked the police department about the large discrepancy between amounts charged for a candidate and a sitting president?
Additionally, the Secret Service handles security at these events.
Has Seven Days asked the police department for the request by any candidate or sitting politician for extra security?
As there was NO disturbance caused by the attendees to any of theses rally’s, has Seven Days asked the police department if their actions were really just a money grab for overtime so that retiring officers can bump their pension?
I am not at all surprised to see yet another misleading, half-assed headline to slam now President Trump when he was candidate Trump. Too bad Seven Days chose to follow the mainstream media’s tactics. Thanks to all commenters prior to me for calling Seven Days out on it.
Maybe from now on the city should get paid before they agree to provide security for fundraisers!
The Burlington police officers present at the Flynn disrespected the free speech rights of Burlington citizens in the audience.
At Trump’s behest, Burlington police ejected people from their seats and physically removed them from the Flynn for holding up signs that criticized Trump or otherwise displeased him. Instead of observing their own oaths of office to uphold the constitution, including the freedom of speech, the Burlington police followed Trump’s orders to remove dissident citizens.
Yes, the money Trump failed to pay has importance. But the role of the Burlington police in suppressing the free speech of Burlington citizens at Trump’s behest should not be forgotten.
Deadbeat Donnie strikes again. Trump has a long train of unpaid workers and contractors behind him, much less illegal immigrants working at his properties. He is a grifter of the highest order. Which is why Republicans love him, he cheats people.
Obama needs to pay up as well. Neo-liberal Democrats such as himself aren’t much different than the scorched Earth GOP.
Who is guarding the hole in the middle of Burlington and who pays for that?
Mr. Leas: When a facility like the Flynn is rented out to a private party, it is no longer a public space. Mr. Trump can designate who gets in and who gets kicked out.
Don’t blame the cops or Trump for this activity, it’s just the way it works in this scenario.