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| Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson watch fireworks; Dems are preparing fireworks of their own. (ProPublica) |
As we noted in yesterday's post about a Russian oligarch helping bankroll Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding, Junior would have been wise to decline any financial assistance from a money man with ties to Vladimir Putin because "the gift likely gives Democrats a potent political weapon they will be happy to use in future elections."
As it turns out, Democrats already were on the case at about the time I wrote those words, according to a report at Axios. Under the headline "Scoop: Top House Democrat probes Don Jr.'s wedding party," Andrew Solender writes:
The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is investigating a Russian oligarch's reported financial involvement in a celebration related to Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Robert Garcia is poised to be Congress' lead investigator if Democrats retake the House. This probe offers a hint of the direction he'll go in that role.
* Oversight Democrats are investigating the numerous ways in which the Trump family has sought to enrich themselves on the basis of their proximity to President Donald Trump," Garcia stated in a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
* In a separate letter to Trump Jr., Garcia wrote that ProPublica's reporting on Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev's role in funding the event "may be the most serious allegation against you to date."
In our post dated Sept. 16, we outlined a number of reasons the wedding gift from Umar Kremlev might draw heavy interest from Democrats. Here is how we summarized it:
The more you learn about Kremlev, the sketchier he sounds. And it's hard not to think that Trump Jr. might someday regret getting involved with the Russian. If Trump Jr. does wind up running for office, opponents likely will claim the whole wedding episode raises questions about his judgment, turning a seemingly positive event into a negative. It might not help that Kremlev is trying to raise his profile in the United States.
As for specifics that cast a sketchy tone around Kremlev, let's take a look at just a few items from our previous post:
(1) In 2009, Umar Kremlev did not yet exist.
He was in his late 20s, with a criminal record for extortion and battery, still going by his birth name, Umar Lutfulloyev, according to the Russian independent news outlet Proekt;
(2) In 2010, he changed his name to Kremlev. He soon joined a Russian government-backed biker gang called the Night Wolves;
(3) In 2020, Kremlev became president of the IBA. The association was something akin to FIFA but for boxing and had long overseen the sport in the Olympics. It had been beset by corruption allegations and was on the brink of insolvency;
(4) Kremlev, 43, is also heavily involved in an organization called Healthy Fatherland, run by his 23-year-old wife’s twin sister. The group — which promotes healthy eating and youth sports — is under Ukrainian sanctions for its alleged role in a program of abducting Ukrainian children from occupied territories and relocating them under the guise of “rehabilitation.”
Axios adds an important piece to the puzzle by getting a statement from President Donald Trump. As is often the case with Trump's words, they give off a scent of being detached from reality. Andrew Solender writes:
President Trump said in a statement to Axios shared by the White House press office that he has "no idea who Umar is, never heard of him, and he didn't pay for Don and Bettina's wedding, which took place at a totally different location, and on a different day from the wedding." (Note: This sounds like the White House press office might have twisted the president's words. I believe Trump meant to say (the) wedding . . . took place at a totally different location, and on a different day, from the after-party.) As for the president's claim that Don Jr. has never heard of Umar, and the Russian did not pay for Don Jr.'s wedding, that is contrary to statements by Trump Jr. (either individually or with his wife) or his spokesperson, as quoted by ProPublica. The president's statement continues:
* "It was an 'afterparty' given in their honor. Not a big deal! I was not present at the party," he added.
* A representative for Trump Jr. did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Kremlev.
How serious is Robert Garcia about investigating the Trump Jr. wedding -- and the funding thereof? Very serious, according to the Axios report. Solender writes:
The latest: In his letter to Wiles, Garcia wrote that he wants all "documents, records, and communications between the White House and Mr. Donald Trump, Jr., concerning Mr. Umar Kremlev," including any warnings about his ties to Putin.
* He asked whether Trump Jr. has a security clearance, whether he disclosed his ties to Kremlev to the White House, and if President Trump's absence from the ceremony was related to the oligarch's involvement.
* "Any possible foreign entanglement deserves close scrutiny," Garcia wrote, citing reports that Trump Jr. is a key political adviser to his father.
Garcia requested Trump Jr. turn over an array of documents, including a full guest list, dates of contact between him and Kremlev, and any communications he has had with the White House or intelligence officials about Kremlev.
* He also wants records of "all purchases made for your wedding by foreign nationals and others on your behalf," and gifts he received from foreign nationals or "those with close ties to adversaries of the United States."
* He asked Trump Jr. if Mr. Kremlev has ever provided him "anything of value in exchange for favorable treatment by the U.S. government or information about the Trump Administration."
Between the lines: As the top minority party member on the panel, Garcia is currently stuck making voluntary requests for information, which can easily be shrugged off by the administration and Trump family members.
* That all changes if Democrats win the House and Garcia obtains the Oversight Committee gavel next January: He would be able to compel potential witnesses to testify and turn over documents.
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