March 8, 2017

To: Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury

Kathleen McGettigan, Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management
Timothy Horne, Acting Administrator of the General Services Administration

Cc: Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, The White House

From: Ari Melber, MSNBC Chief Legal Correspondent

Dear Mr. Mnuchin, Ms. McGettigan and Mr. Horne,

I am writing to request documentation regarding President Trumps salary.

President-Elect Trump stated on Nov. 13, 2016 that he was not going to take the salary
for serving as President.1

The Constitution requires that the President receive compensation, however, and requires
that such compensation shall not be decreased during the Presidents term.2

Federal law mandates that the President receive $400,000 annual compensation, paid on a
monthly basis.3

Under the law, the President would receive his first paycheck on or around February 20,
2017, and will receive his second paycheck on or around March 20, 2017.

Can you please provide answers and documentation for the following questions, by the close of
business on Friday March 10, so we can reflect them in our reporting:

1) Has Pres. Trump accepted and deposited the funds for his first paycheck?
2) Has Pres. Trump donated the funds from his first paycheck, and if so, to what entity?
(Please provide documentation.)
3) If not, when does Pres. Trump plan to donate those funds, and to what entity?

1
Here is the relevant exchange from 60 Minutes:
Lesley Stahl: Are you gonna take the salary, the presidents salary?
Pres.-Elect Trump: Well, Ive never commented on this, but the answer is no. I think I have to by law take $1, so Ill
take $1 a year. But its a -- I dont even know what it is Do you know what the salary is?
Stahl: $400,000 youre giving up.
Trump: No, Im not going to take the salary. Im not taking it.
2
U.S. Constitution, Art. II. Sec. 1(7)
3
U.S. Code 102 (compensation in the aggregate amount of $400,000 a year, to be paid monthly).
 4) In the potential absence of documentation confirming donation of the first paycheck,
what is the Trump administrations position on the Presidents pledge to donate his
salary? Has the Presidents reversed his decision, or does the President plan to delay
donating the salary as he receives it each month? If so, on what date does the
President intend to donate his salary?

Again, I look forward to your answers by Friday, March 10. Please feel free to write, email or
call anytime to discuss this matter.

Sincerely,

Ari Melber
MSNBC Chief Legal Correspondent