Trump Jr.'s wedding under investigation over Russian oligarch's lavish gift
Donald Trump and his son Donald Trump Jr. (photo: Getty Images)
Democrats in the US Congress have launched an investigation following reports that a Russian businessman financed celebrations for Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding. The events took place in the Bahamas in May this year, Reuters reports.
The investigation was prompted by a ProPublica report stating that Umar Kremlev, a Russian businessman and president of the International Boxing Association, paid for part of the celebrations for Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding.
According to Reuters, the amount involved was hundreds of thousands of dollars. The celebrations took place in the Bahamas in May. The media outlet notes that Kremlev has close ties to the Russian authorities.
What exactly did the Russian businessman pay for?
Trump Jr.'s wife, Bettina Trump, said that Kremlev is their friend and gave them an "extraordinarily generous wedding gift." At the same time, she stressed that the businessman did not pay for the wedding itself, but for two parties held afterward.
Members of Congress now want to know why a Russian businessman linked to the Kremlin agreed to finance a large-scale celebration for a relative of the US president.
"Why is a Russian oligarch and friend of Vladimir Putin financially supporting the President's son? What does Umar Kremlev expect in return for funding this three-day wedding in the Bahamas?" Democratic Representative Robert Garcia wrote.
Meanwhile, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer questioned whether such a gift was appropriate given the Russian businessman's connections.
"You're dealing with a Russian oligarch, not just a cousin who's giving you a gift...sometimes a wedding gift is a bribe from a foreign autocrat," Schumer said.
Trump's reaction
Donald Trump, who did not attend his son's wedding, said he does not know Kremlev and called the situation "not a big deal."
Reuters notes that Garcia and other leading Democrats are already preparing for possible investigations into Donald Trump, his family, and ethical issues that have arisen since the start of his second presidential term in 2025.
Background
On September 14, ProPublica published an investigation stating that Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch close to Putin, secretly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for Donald Trump Jr.'s lavish wedding celebrations in the Bahamas.
