Top Dems Ask Gowdy to Subpoena Documents From Bank that Reportedly Loaned Manafort Millions in Exchange for Promises of Appointment

May 1, 2018
Press Release

Top Dems Ask Gowdy to Subpoena Documents

From Bank that Reportedly Loaned Manafort

Millions in Exchange for Promises of Appointment

 

Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2018)—Today,  Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security, sent a letter asking Chairman Trey Gowdy to subpoena The Federal Savings Bank for documents it is withholding relating to reports that its CEO, Steve Calk, allegedly made several multi-million dollar loans to President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, as part of a quid pro quo to be named to a high-level position within the Trump Administration.   

We are writing to respectfully request that you issue a subpoena to compel The Federal Savings Bank to produce documents it has been withholding from Congress relating to extremely troubling reports that its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Steve Calk, may have made loans of up to $16 million to President Donald Trump’s campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, in exchange for promises to name him Secretary of the Army,” Cummings and Lynch wrote.

On February 27, 2018, Cummings and Lynch sent a letter to the Department of Defense (DOD) requesting documents and information relating to these reports, including communications with or regarding Calk, Manafort, Rick Gates, and other individuals affiliated or connected with President Trump’s campaign.

On April 2, 2018, DOD sent a letter responding that eight days after President Trump’s election, the Army Chief of Staff “had the opportunity to engage Mr. Calk on November 16, 2016, when he provided remarks at a Business Executives for National Security (BENS) luncheon in Chicago,” and that “Army administrative personnel recall receiving a telephone call from Mr. Calk sometime in November of 2016 regarding the confirmation process in general.” 

“The information DOD provided appears to have confirmed at least part of the underlying allegation, which is that Mr. Calk was actively inquiring with the Pentagon within days of the presidential election about a high-level position that would have required the advice and consent of the Senate,” Cummings and Lynch wrote. 

DOD’s letter did not explain why Mr. Calk was inquiring about the confirmation process.  As a result, on April 12, 2018, Cummings and Lynch sent a letter directly to the Bank requesting documents and information about why Calk was seeking this information and whether his actions were related to a quid pro quo with Manafort. 

The Bank responded on April 26, 2018, with a one-page letter arguing that the “news media speculation is false.” 

“The Bank produced only a single document—a copy of the already public Special Counsel’s Superseding Indictment against Mr. Manafort—and argued that it ‘demonstrates that the Bank was a victim of Manafort’s fraudulent conduct.’  However, the Bank did not produce any of the documents or information we requested,” Cummings and Lynch wrote.  

The Ranking Members asked Gowdy to issue a subpoena to compel the Bank to produce the documents it is withholding.  If he decides not to issue this subpoena himself, the Ranking Members asked him to place this matter on the agenda for the Committee’s next regularly scheduled business meeting so all Committee members will have the opportunity to vote on a motion for this subpoena.

Click here to read today’s letter.

115th Congress