The list of controversies surrounding Donald Trump that congressional Democrats are eager to investigate was already staggering, but the latest addition to the list is of particular interest. Axios reported:
[Rep. Robert Garcia of California, 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.
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.
“A Russian oligarch with close ties to Vladimir Putin spent hundreds of thousands of dollars bankrolling Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding. It’s baffling that the son of a President would even think about allowing a Russian oligarch to bankroll his wedding. Is this why President Trump skipped his son’s wedding? Oversight Democrats are investigating and demanding answers immediately,” the ranking member said in a press statement.
Garcia has already sent separate letters to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and Trump Jr., requesting extensive information on a voluntary basis. A subpoena would require Republican support, which isn’t going to happen — though the circumstances appear likely to change in the coming months should Democrats retake the House majority, reclaim subpoena power and restore Congress’ oversight role.
The underlying story clearly deserves scrutiny. As this week got underway, ProPublica reported it was Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin, who “secretly bankrolled” part of Trump Jr.’s wedding. From the article:
Kremlev footed the bill for hundreds of thousands of dollars of wedding expenses, according to records reviewed by ProPublica and interviews with three people familiar with the event. The oligarch paid to rent out one of the private islands, where a reception was held and where guests slept.
He also covered other big-ticket items, like the fireworks show, and his team helped plan the event.
It’s important to emphasize that the guest list was fairly small (about 50 people were reportedly in attendance) and according to the groom, the wedding was limited to “really close” friends and family.
It also included a “conspicuous” group of Russians, including Kremlev, whom the other guests apparently did not know (for example, Eric Trump’s spokesperson told ProPublica, “Eric has absolutely no clue who this person is, nor has never heard his name”).
“It’s not clear why Kremlev helped pay for Trump Jr.’s wedding,” ProPublica added. “The men appear to have met only recently.”
In terms of politics in Moscow, Kremlev is a rather prominent figure. ProPublica’s report noted, for example, that in the days leading up to the wedding, he and Putin were in China together, which came on the heels of Putin bestowing him with a state honor, the Order of Friendship.
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What’s more, one of Kremlev’s companies was chosen to operate the Russian national lottery; Kremlev was rewarded with ownership of Russia’s largest car dealership company; and Kremlev is the head of the International Boxing Association, “a scandal-plagued sports group that has been financed by the Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom.”
As MS NOW reported, the newlyweds issued a statement arguing that Kremlev didn’t pay for the wedding itself, but rather, the party that came shortly after the wedding.
I’m not sure how that distinction helps.
As for why Americans should care about a Putin-liked Russian oligarch paying for the wedding party of the sitting American president’s oldest son, it’s an open question as to why, exactly, Kremlev paid for and helped plan the festivities and what he might want or expect in return. (Seemingly in response to such open questions, the bride, Bettina Trump, wrote on Instagram, “[S]ometimes a wedding gift is simply a wedding gift.”)
The White House and the Russian government did not respond to ProPublica’s requests for comment. Kremlev’s press office said he has “a friendly relationship” with Trump Jr., adding that he “has never discussed political matters with any of his American friends and acquaintances.”
It’s a safe bet we haven’t heard the last of this one. Watch this space.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
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