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Don's what? Portable toilet names covered for inauguration

Posted at 1:38 PM, Jan 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-01-13 15:38:35-05

It's the great port-a-potty cover-up for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.

Workers preparing for the inauguration Jan. 20 have taped over the name of the company -- "Don's Johns" -- that has long supplied portable restrooms for major outdoor events in the nation's capital.

Virginia-based Don's Johns calls itself the Washington area's top provider of portable toilet rentals. But the name apparently strikes too close to home for inaugural organizers.

Workers have placed blue tape over the company name on dozens of portable restrooms installed near the Capitol for the inauguration.

The company's name is clearly visible upon close inspection, but is blocked for a wide-angle view by a TV or still camera.

The inauguration will take place on the west side of the Capitol facing the National Mall. Portable toilets set up on the east side, near Senate office buildings, do not have taped-over logos.

Robert Weghorst, chief operating officer for Don's Johns, said he did not know the logos were covered up until the AP reported on it, lighting up his company switchboard and "blowing up" its social media accounts.

"We don't know why it's being done. We didn't tell someone to do it," he said in a telephone interview Friday. "We're proud to have our name on the units."

Don's Johns has provided portable toilets for many large events in Washington, including the 2009 and 2013 inauguration ceremonies for President Barack Obama, Weghorst said. No logos were taped over during those events, he said.

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and the Presidential Inaugural Committee had no immediate comment Friday.