The Washington Post reports that the top two bidders for building a new headquarters for the FBI are close to despot-elect Donald Trump and one of them is even an adviser to Trump.
One, Steven Roth, served as an economic adviser to Trump’s presidential campaign and co-owns a building with him in Manhattan. Another, Larry Silverstein, has been referred to by Trump as a “friend of mine.”
Roth and Silverstein have both known Trump for more than 30 years. They have been rivals on some projects and cheerleaders on others.
A new headquarters has been under consideration for many years, but a builder hasn't been chosen yet.
Will Team Trump try to tip the choice in favor of a specific friend or associate or possibly even his adviser Steven Roth? I see no reason to believe they wouldn't try to influence the decision.
The Post also points out that FBI director James Comey has lobbied for a new headquarters and, as you know, Comey is at least partially responsible for delivering the White House to Trump.
Congressional Republicans have objected in the past to spending over a billion dollars on a new headquarters, but with a Republican in the White House there will be few limits if any on what they're willing to spend.