Panama’s government steps into Trump hotel management dispute

PANAMA CITY — Panama’s government said Monday it was formally investigat- ing a complaint that executives for President Donald Trump’s family hotel busi- ness were illegally occupying a 70-story luxury Trump hotel amid a management dispute.

The Public Ministry said it was investigating whether there was any “punishable conduct” in the matter at the Trump International Hotel in Panama. The dispute has included armed guards on the property, allegations of improperly shredding documents and a pitched fight for control over a room filled with computer servbusiness dispute is resolved ers. Employees acting at the in arbitration. direction of Trump’s hotel Both sides acknowledged business retained physical that armed security guards control over the property, hired by Trump’s executives but the hotel’s owners were were on the scene. controlling at least some of “I am your emp l oyer the hotel’s bank accounts. under the laws of Panama,”

Monday’s announcement Orestes Fintiklis wrote to escalated an already tense hotel employees in a letstandoff between the hotel’s ter Sunday. He is head of owners and Trump’s exec- Ithaca Capital, which owns utives, who were hired to 202 of the hotel’s 369 units. manage the Panama busi- “The Trump Organization, ness years before Trump to gain financial and stratewas elected president. Hotel gic advantage against me and owners have been seeking to the owners I represent, has dump Trump’s brand and been lying to you and putmanagement team since ting your jobs and the hotel October over allegations of at grave risk.” poor financial performance But Trump Hotels has and financial misconduct. refused to accept the terTrump’s company disputes mination of its hotel manthose claims and says it won’t agement contract, calling physically leave before the the firing illegal.