Garcia opens inquiry, calls payments ‘most serious allegation to date’
Bettina Trump wrote on her Instagram account Tuesday that Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev paid for “two nights of celebrations” at her and Donald Trump Jr’s wedding, while simultaneously calling coverage of the payments “fake news.”
In a caption signed “Don & Bettina,” she wrote: “It’s unfortunate that something so personal and happy can be recast as something political or sinister simply because of who someone is or where they come from. Friendship doesn’t require a political motive. Generosity doesn’t automatically come with an agenda. And sometimes a wedding gift is simply a wedding gift.”
The post came a day after Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House oversight committee, wrote to Trump Jr on Monday that the Kremlev affair “may be the most serious allegation against you to date.” Garcia added: “The secretive and exorbitant gifts you have received as the son of a sitting US president from a member of Putin’s inner circle raises serious national security and public corruption concerns.” The letter went on: “Given that you reportedly advise your father, the president of the United States, on issues of national security and vetting White House personnel, any possible foreign entanglement deserves close scrutiny.”
The Democratic probe builds on existing House Democratic investigations into how the Trump family has become richer during his presidency.
According to ProPublica, Kremlev contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the wedding, covering the cost of an entire private island for the newlyweds and their guests and paying for a fireworks display at the May after-party. ProPublica described Kremlev, the president of the International Boxing Association and a reported gambling market guru, as a member of Putin’s circle. The outlet characterized the relationship as “an extraordinary development: a member of Putin’s circle financially supporting the president’s son and gaining intimate access to the Trump family.” Kremlev was among about 50 guests at the celebration, which took place days after Kremlev had accompanied Putin on a trip to China, ProPublica reported.
In response to detailed questions from ProPublica, a spokesperson for Trump Jr did not dispute the wedding payments from Kremlev. “Umar is a personal friend of Don,” the spokesman said, adding that Kremlev is “not someone he has a business relationship with.” The spokesman said the two men met through a mutual friend in the hunting world and bonded over their love of boxing and the outdoors.
President Trump, 80, told multiple outlets he had “never heard” of his son’s close friend. In his statement, Trump said: “Kremlev 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.” He added: “It was an ‘afterparty’ given in their honor. Not a big deal! I was not present at the party.” Trump had previously described the celebration as “a small, little private affair” when explaining why he did not attend.
The inquiry raises questions about foreign access to the president’s family at a time when Trump Jr is reported to advise his father on political matters. Trump Jr has been a key voice in his father’s political world, encouraging the selection of JD Vance as his running mate two years ago and reportedly helping choose members of his father’s cabinet, according to The Guardian.