Trump says son has paid back Russian for wedding party
Donald Trump says his son has repaid a Russian billionaire who funded portions of his Bahamas wedding celebrations. Trump defended the arrangement as totally allowed, though reports indicate the oligarch has close ties to Vladimir Putin. No evidence of the repayment has been made public. The revelation has triggered calls for an FBI investigation from Rep. Himes and accusations of corruption from a GOP senator, while a top oversight Democrat has opened an investigation into the funding.
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- ✓ A Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin bankrolled parts of Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding in the Bahamas.
- ✓ Donald Trump stated that the funding of the wedding party by a Russian oligarch is totally allowed.
- ✓ A top oversight Democrat has opened an investigation into the wedding funding.
What changed
Donald Trump has publicly claimed that Donald Trump Jr. either repaid or will repay the Russian businessman.
Live updates
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Trump claims Donald Trump Jr. repaid Russian oligarch for wedding funding
Donald Trump says his son has repaid a Russian billionaire who funded portions of his Bahamas wedding celebrations. Trump defended the arrangement as totally allowed, though reports indicate the oligarch has close ties to Vladimir Putin. No evidence of the repayment has been made public. The revelation has triggered calls for an FBI investigation from Rep. Himes and accusations of corruption from a GOP senator, while a top oversight Democrat has opened an investigation into the funding.
Why it matters
The funding involves a Russian businessman referred to as Umar. This connection draws scrutiny due to the individual's proximity to the Kremlin.
What is confirmed
- A Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin bankrolled parts of Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding in the Bahamas.
- Donald Trump stated that the funding of the wedding party by a Russian oligarch is totally allowed.
- A top oversight Democrat has opened an investigation into the wedding funding.
Still unconfirmed
- Donald Trump Jr. has already repaid the Russian businessman for the wedding celebrations.
- Rep. Himes has demanded an FBI investigation into the funding of the wedding events.
- A GOP senator described the funding of the party as corruption.
What to watch next
- Public release of financial records proving the repayment
- FBI decision on whether to open a formal investigation
- Further details on the specific identity and ties of the oligarch Umar
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (17)
- ProPublica — Donald Trump Jr.’s Bahamas Wedding Was Secretly Bankrolled by Russian Oligarch Close to Putin
- MS NOW — Rep. Himes demands FBI investigate Russian oligarch’s funding of Trump Jr. wedding events
- puck.news — Don Jr.’s “Dear Friend” in Moscow
- The Washington Post — Trump says son has paid back Russian for wedding party
- cnn.com — Trump says his son paid back Russian billionaire who funded parts of wedding celebration
- The Hill — GOP senator: Russian oligarch funding Trump Jr.’s party is ‘corruption’
- Bloomberg — Trump Says His Son Will Repay Russian Oligarch for Wedding Party
- AP News — Trump says his son’s wedding party being bankrolled by a Russian oligarch is ‘totally allowed’
- abcnews.com — Trump says Donald Trump Jr. repaid Russian oligarch for wedding party
- Reuters — Trump says his son told him he will repay Russian oligarch for wedding parties
- ProPublica — “Our Dear Friend Umar”: How We Uncovered That a Russian Oligarch Bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding
- Salon.com — Top oversight Dem opens investigation of Donald Trump Jr.’s Russian oligarch-funded wedding
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