A prominent Republican senator is breaking with his party to call for an investigation into Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son.
The extraordinary demand follows allegations of corruption surrounding Trump Jr. after reports said Russian businessman Umar Kremlev helped finance his wedding celebrations in the Bahamas in May with his new wife, Bettina Anderson, 39.
The reported contribution covered hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses, including the rental of a private island and a private fireworks show.
Amid the backlash, President Trump said his son had reimbursed Kremlev, who has been linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I hear he paid him back. I understand that Don paid him back,” Trump said, while maintaining that accepting payment for a party was “totally allowed” and “very common.”
A source familiar with Donald Trump Jr.’s response to the controversy confirmed to Our News Outlet last week that he had repaid Kremlev for the event.
Utah Republican Senator John Curtis is now seeking an investigation into the business dealings of both Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son. After Curtis released his letter Tuesday, Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn joined the call for greater transparency.
Curtis wants both men to disclose their relationships with foreign nationals so lawmakers can determine whether the office of the presidency was used to financially benefit them or other members of their families.
Utah Republican Senator John Curtis is urging lawmakers to investigate the business dealings of Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden
Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson have acknowledged findings from a ProPublica investigation published this month. They said Kremlin-linked businessman Umar Kremlev was a friend who gave them a generous wedding gift after their lavish Bahamas celebration. Trump Jr. has reportedly since repaid the money
Republicans in Congress have accused Hunter Biden of foreign influence peddling, corruption and making false statements to lawmakers—allegations he has denied.
In his letter, Curtis said previous reporting on the men’s business activities “raise legitimate questions about foreign access to members of a sitting president’s family and whether such relationships can create actual or perceived expectations of favorable treatment.”
He added that the expectation of “a returned favor” could potentially expose the country to national security risks.
Representative Robert Garcia, a leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, has also pressed for answers about Kremlev’s role in financing Trump Jr.’s wedding festivities, which have reportedly been repaid.
“Why did a Russian oligarch close to Putin fund Trump Jr.’s wedding in the Bahamas? Umar Kremlev spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the president’s son. What did he get in return? We need answers,” Garcia said.
Kremlev is also described as a close associate of Vladimir Putin
Before Curtis made his appeal public, Republican criticism had largely remained behind the scenes. One longtime Trump ally told Our News Outlet, “F*ck them. F*ck this,” while another said the episode was “not surprising” but added that this was part of the reason Republicans were so angry.
Anderson addressed the questions about Kremlev in an Instagram post after the report emerged, describing the Russian businessman as “our dear friend Umar.”
She said he had “very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us,” while emphasizing that the events he funded took place “after our wedding.”
Anderson concluded: “Friendship doesn’t require a political motive. Generosity doesn’t automatically come with an agenda.”
Don Jr’s wedding to Bettina Anderson, which took place in May of this year, was a toned down affair.
The Memorial Day weekend festivities included a private ceremony in West Palm Beach, Florida, which was then followed by an intimate celebration in the Bahamas.
The president was not in attendance at the wedding, and neither was First Lady Melania Trump.
The couple had 18 guests at the ceremony, which took place in Palm Beach in May, and 50 people at their Bahamas reception
The new bride took to her Instagram Stories to share a look at their wedding bands along with a gushing message to Don Jr after their wedding
Photos of Bettina’s bridal shower posted by Ivanka show Bettina smiling alongside her new family, which included sisters-in-law Tiffany, Ivanka Trump and Lara Trump, as well as her new niece Ivanka and Jared Kushner’s daughter, Arabella, 14
A spokesperson for the First Lady told Our News Outlet earlier this month: ‘Mrs. Trump does not, and has never had, a relationship with Mr. Kremlev,’ and added that ‘Mrs. Trump played no role whatsoever in organizing the wedding event and was not privy to any aspect of its financial planning.’
Don Jr and Bettina celebrated their wedding with his siblings, Eric, 42, and Ivanka, 44, who went with them to the Bahamas.
A spokesperson for Eric said earlier this month in a statement he ‘has absolutely no clue who this person is, nor has he ever heard his name.’
The Daily Mail reached out to Don Jr for comment.
