Lead1 Association -- formerly the D1A Athletic Directors' Association -- will host a 600-to-700 person gala in September at the Trump Int'l Hotel in DC as the group begins work on a PAC to "fund candidates for the House and Senate," according to Brittain & O'Connell of the WASHINGTON POST. Former U.S. Rep. and NBAer Tom McMillen, who is now Lead1 President & CEO, said that he "saw nothing wrong with booking Trump’s hotel at a time when his group is seeking to build political relationships." McMillen said that he has known Trump at least since '85, when the President Elect was an "early donor to his first campaign." But McMillen said that he "decided to hold the gala" at Trump's hotel because he was "seeking a larger ballroom." McMillen: "It’s a great venue. It’s large, it’s got capacity and obviously I’ve had relations with the president-elect for 30 years." Brittain & O'Connell note an early draft of the event brochure stated that the gala "will be a one of a kind event, that will allow athletic directors to meet with 'members of Congress, and special guests, including the President and Vice President.'" But a later draft "omitted the direct reference to the president and vice president and referred only to 'administration officials.'" McMillen said that the drafts were "produced by a consultant without the group’s knowledge." He added that the draft has "not yet been finalized." Brittain & O'Connell note critics "see difficult ethical issues and possible conflicts of interest raised by Trump's ownership of the hotel." Former White House Associate Counsel Richard Painter said, "Any intermingling with U.S. government business and Trump Organization business is very risky. I would, at a bare minimum, with respect to this particular event, prohibit White House personnel from attending" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/10).
