The Justice Department has concluded no improper influence was exerted by then-President Donald Trump over a decision by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to keep its headquarters in downtown Washington D.C.
“We found no evidence that the FBI’s decisions were based on improper considerations or motives,” the inspector general’s report stated, after a four-year investigation into allegations Trump opposed a move to the suburbs of Maryland or Virginia to benefit his businesses.
The controversy originated from a developer exchange procurement deal in 2014 to transfer the ownership of the J. Edgar Hoover Building site to a developer. However, plans were canceled in 2017 when Congress withheld the requested funding, leading to the recommendation for a reconstruction of the existings site. This decision was criticized by some Democrats, who suspected Trump of intervening to prevent competition with his D.C.-based commercial property, the Trump International Hotel.
FBI Director Christopher Wray, who confirmed discussing the relocation matter with Trump on numerous occasions, stated he did not feel any pressure to comply with a specific direction, and that he himself thought it would be “great” if the headquarters could stay where it was.