Sam Skolnik – “The pending decision from the General Services Administration over the ownership of President Donald Trump’s hotel near the White House has become one of the most closely watched matters in the modern history of the agency. It has also cast a spotlight on the process the agency uses to weigh alleged lease violations, and on the veteran contracting officer weighing whether to try to nullify the contract. At issue is the lease for the Trump International Hotel on the grounds of the Old Post Office Pavilion — and a provision that many say appears to restrict all federal elected officials, including U.S. presidents, from financially benefiting from the agreement. The complicated web of relationships gives way to clear conflicts of interest, many critics contend. The lease is between GSA and Trump Old Post Office LLC, which is part of the Trump Organization, a privately owned conglomerate. Trump, who soon will be appointing the new administrator of the GSA, until last month was listed as chairman and president of that company…”