Tucked away in the GOP coronavirus relief bill is a provision to allocate $1.75 billion for a new FBI headquarters in the exact same location as the current building. For years, the FBI has wanted to move to the suburbs but the current location happens to be across the street from the Old Post Office building, otherwise known as the Trump hotel.

Apparently the White House insisted on the money for the new FBI building. Why? If the Feds go to the burbs, a new hotel, competition for Trump’s, could be built on the old FBI site.

The GOP coronavirus bill has $1.75b for a new FBI building in its present location so as to block a potential competitor to the Trump Hotel, and 100% deduction for business meals (which would benefit Trump's hotels). But not a cent for safe and secure elections this November.

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) July 27, 2020

Senate Republicans seemed to distance themselves from the idea. The Washington Post writes:

”In calling for a new “Washington, DC headquarters facility,” the provision reflects President Trump’s ongoing interest in building a new headquarters for the FBI downtown, rather than a secure campus in the suburbs that was envisioned before he took office.

“At a news conference Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) initially denied that the FBI money was in the bill, but then was notified by reporters that the language was in fact included.

“You’ll have to ask them why they insisted that be included,” he told reporters, referring to the White House.”

When reporters asked Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby about why money for a new FBI building is included in an emergency coronavirus relief bill he replied, “Good question.”

After meeting with Meadows and Mnuchin, Schumer says they are “somewhat frustrated” and says GOP “dithered” before putting out their plan. He says they were told GOP didn’t have money proposed for food stamps but had money for a new FBI building: “What the heck is going on?”

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) July 28, 2020