We did it! We found evidence that a U.S. President and his family received funds from a foreign government as a reward for lenient policymaking, but House Republicans won’t do anything about it.
No Scrutiny Of Billions Jared Kushner Received From Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund
On February 12th, the Washington Post released a report on Jared Kushner’s ties to the Saudi Royal Family. The day after Kushner left the White House, he created a company that went on to become a private equity firm with $2 billion in funds from a wealth fund chaired by Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman. Kushner attempted to keep the disclosure of those funds hidden.
Various records show Kushner pushed for Saudi Arabia to be a priority during his time in the White House, which resulted in assertions from Donald Trump that he felt the Saudi Prince “owed” him. Lawmakers have expressed concern about this behavior, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Ron Wyden, stated the financial links between the Saudi royal family and the Trump family “raise very serious issues.” Even members of Saudi’s Public Investment Fund expressed concern for giving Jared Kushner such a large amount of funds given his lack of experience in private equity.
Kushner’s company is slated to earn $25 million annually from management fees and a share of the profits. Kushner has touted his White House experience as a selling point for his business. Kushner’s fund has also raised an additional $500 million bringing the total funds to nearly $3 billion. Hundreds of millions have come from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, the latter of which Kushner bailed out of a blockade during his time in office.
In Clear Foreign Entanglement Donald Trump Is Hosting Saudi-Funded Golf Tournaments
On April 14, 2023, Donald J. Trump filed his personal financial disclosure documents, which revealed his reported income for deals he made with the Saudi-backed company LIV golf. In 2022, Donald Trump used two Trump golf courses to hold tournaments for LIV: One in the Trump National Golf Club in Doral and the other at the Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster. Trump’s disclosure also reveals he is the main beneficiary of the profits made at both courses, the ownership trail leads back to the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, his personal money bag that he can dip into whenever he wants. Trump’s disclosure claimed the “golf related revenue” totaled over $10,000,000 in value, but the true value of the deal could be more than that. Former PGA officials have claimed that it typically costs $2-3 million to host the tournament, not including additional expenses, but a golf writer who attended the Bedminster event claimed to have heard Trump could have been paid as high as $4.5 million.
Court documents surrounding LIV have shown the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) is the majority owner of the company. It was also uncovered that PIF covers 100% of the costs related to LIV golf events, such as the tournaments hosted on Trump properties. The deal between the two parties occurred a year after Trump left office and Saudi Arabia had recently been in the hot seat following a U.S. State Department report that outlined the country’s history of human rights abuses. The nature of the deal appears to be ‘business as usual’ between the two parties. Trump built a legacy of leniency when it came to Saudi Arabia. Trump used presidential powers to clear obstacles for the country, which led to billions in arms deals contracts, and shielded them from any accountability regarding the murder of Jamal Khashoggi or their role in the brutality occurring in Yemen.
Now, Trump has even gone on to urge professional golf players to join LIV golf and “take the money” or else. In 2023, LIV announced an additional tournament on top of the two from 2022. On May 26th, Trump National Golf Course in Washington DC will host a LIV golf tournament, another course listed in Trump’s personal financial disclosure. In a single year, Trump is slated to receive as much as $15 million from golf tournaments fully funded by the Saudi government, and not a word from House Republicans.
Something Worth Investigating Is Wendi Murdoch And Jared Kushner’s Secret Beijing Meeting
In November 2017, it was revealed by Chinese venture capitalist, Hugo Shong, that Jared Kushner and one other U.S. official had held a secret meeting, during President Trump’s 12-day Asia visit, with a small group of Chinese investors in Beijing. The meeting had been arranged by Wendi Deng Murdoch, and Kushner promptly dropped out of Trump’s Asia visit after the Beijing stop. Kushner often facilitated access to President Trump for China, and his family flaunted his name to Chinese investors.
While Serving In The White House, Ivanka And President Trump Had Clear Foreign Entanglements With China Through Trademarks And Trump Business Lease Agreement
We’ve yet to mention Ivanka Trump, who has been awarded over 34 trademarks from China. While the trademarks themselves don’t raise suspicion, the rate at which they were approved, and the timing of their approval is reason for alarm. During her time in the White House, Ivanka’s trademarks were approved 40 percent faster than they would have been otherwise. Several of the trademark approvals hovered around the same time her father, then-President Donald Trump vowed to save the Chinese telecommunications firm, ZTE. In 2018, former Head of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, Bill Evenina, testified to Congress that companies like ZTE were used by the Chinese government to conduct espionage operations. President Trump’s business also received at least $5.4 million as a result of a lease agreement involving a Chinese state-owned bank in Trump Tower.
Comer Shut Down Investigation Of Trump Family Foreign Business Dealings Despite All Of The Evidence
Amid all this, Rep. Comer refuses to sound the alarm and is impeding investigation into this glaring conflict of interest. Comer has continued to circle around Hunter Biden’s Chinese energy company deals, which would have totaled less than one half of 1% when compared to the deals being made by Jared Kushner. Comer has killed further investigation into Trump’s finances and the influence authoritarian governments may have bought after spending extravagantly on Trump properties while he was in office.
Former White House Trump Advisor, Jared Kushner Has His Hands On Billions Of Foreign Funds, But No Investigation In Sight
THE DAY AFTER LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE, JARED KUSHNER CREATED A COMPANY THAT WENT ON TO RECEIVE OVER $2 BILLION IN SAUDI PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS
HEADLINE: “After Helping Prince’s Rise, Trump And Kushner Benefit From Saudi Funds.” [Washington Post, 2/12/23]
The Day After Leaving The White House, Kushner Created A Private Equity Firm That Later Got $2 Billion From A Sovereign Wealth Fund Chaired By Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman – Kushner’s Firm Structured The Funds In A Way That Did Not Require Disclosure. “The day after leaving the White House, Kushner created a company that he transformed months later into a private equity firm with $2 billion from a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Kushner’s firm structured those funds in such a way that it did not have to disclose the source, according to previously unreported details of Securities and Exchange Commission forms reviewed by The Washington Post. His business used a commonly employed strategy that allows many equity firms to avoid transparency about funding sources, experts said.” [Washington Post, 2/12/23]
February 2023: Kushner Reportedly Raised Another $500 Million For His Company Bringing The Total To Nearly $3 Billion, The Source For That Additional Money Has Not Been Identified. “Trump is slated to hold three more LIV tournaments on his properties this year. And Kushner reportedly has raised at least another $500 million for his company from international investors since he filed the SEC form last year, bringing the total to around $3 billion. He has not identified the source of that additional money.” [Washington Post 2/12/23]
Records Show Kushner Pushed Trump To Prioritize Saudi Arabia During The Trump Presidency
Reporting Shows Kushner Persuaded Former President Trump To Prioritize Saudi Arabia While In Office And A Former Secretary Of State Asserted In His Book That Trump Believed The Saudi Crown Prince “Owed” Him. “New details about their relationship have emerged in recently published memoirs, as well as accounts in congressional testimony and interviews by The Post with former senior White House officials. Those revelations include Kushner’s written account of persuading Trump to prioritize Saudi Arabia over the objections of top advisers and a former secretary of state’s assertion in a book that Trump believed the prince ‘owed’ him.” [Washington Post, 2/12/23]
KUSHNER’S COMPANY WILL MAKE OVER $25 MILLION ANNUALLY FROM HIS DEAL WITH SAUDI ARABIA
Kushner’s Company Stands To Receive $25 Million Annually In Management Fees And A Share Of The Profits – Kushner Has Touted His White House Experience As A Selling Point For His Business. “Kushner’s company stands to receive a $25 million management fee annually from the Saudi investment plus a share of the profits. Kushner has made his work with Mohammed while in the White House a selling point for his business. In a presentation to investors, first reported by the Intercept, Kushner notes his work ‘managing Middle East peace efforts’ and specifically cites the result of his Jan. 5, 2021, meeting with Mohammed, saying they had discussed lifting the Qatar blockade.” [Washington Post 2/12/23]
- Four Members Of A Five-Person Panel On The Saudi Public Investment Fund Were Not In Favor Of Kushner Receiving $2 Billion Due To His Lack Of Experience In Private Equity. “Kushner has not said when he first sought $2 billion from the Saudi’s Public Investment Fund. The four members of a five-person panel of the fund’s advisers who attended a meeting about the matter were ‘not in favor’ of the investment, citing Kushner’s inexperience in private equity and the fact that the Saudis would bear most of the risk, the New York Times reported, citing confidential minutes of the panel’s meeting in June 2021 that have not been made public.” [Washington Post 2/12/23]
Jared Kushner’s Private Equity Firm also Received Hundreds of Millions from Qatar and The United Arab Emirates
Wealth Funds In The United Arab Emirates And Qatar Invested Hundreds Of Millions With Jared Kushner’s Private Equity Firm. “Wealth funds in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have invested hundreds of millions of dollars with Jared Kushner’s private equity firm, according to people with knowledge of the transactions, joining Saudi Arabia in backing the venture launched by former President Donald J. Trump’s son-in-law as he left the White House.” [New York Times, 3/30/23]
- According To Sources Familiar With The Deal, The UAE Invested More Than $200 Million In Kushner’s Firm – A Qatari Entity Invested A Similar Amount. “The Emiratis invested more than $200 million with Mr. Kushner’s firm, Affinity Partners, two people told about the transactions said. The U.A.E.’s embassy in Washington declined to comment. A Qatari entity invested a similar sum, according to two people with knowledge of that deal. A spokesman for the Qatari embassy in Washington declined to comment.” [New York Times, 3/30/23]
- Previously, Qatari Officials Feared Retribution From Kushner If They Turned Down An Invitation To Invest And Trump Returned To Power. “The Times previously reported that Qatari officials feared they would face unfavorable treatment if they turned down Mr. Kushner’s invitation to invest and Mr. Trump returned to power.” [New York Times, 3/30/23]
During The Trump Presidency, A Qatar-Linked Company Previously Bailed Kushner Out Of His Debt-Ridden 666th Fifth Avenue Tour
During The Trump Presidency, A Qatar-Linked Company Bailed Kushner Out Of His Debt-Ridden, 666 Fifth Avenue, Tower. “A Qatar-linked company helped bail out the Kushners’ debt-ridden tower in midtown Manhattan, 666 Fifth Avenue, during the Trump presidency.” [New York Times, 3/30/23]
DURING TRUMP’S PRESIDENCY, KUSHNER HELPED LIFT ECONOMIC BLOCKADES ON QATAR
During The Final Days Of The Trump Presidency, Kushner Helped Lift Economic And Diplomatic Blockades On Qatar – The Blockade Efforts Had Been Led By Saudi Arabia. “During the final days of the Trump presidency, he played a role in discussions that helped lift an economic and diplomatic blockade of Qatar by its neighbors. The blockade, led by Saudi Arabia, had been imposed in 2017 at a time when Mr. Kushner was cultivating a relationship with Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman — who was about to become next in line to the throne in the kingdom.” [New York Times, 3/30/23]
Kushner Is Not The Only Senior Trump Official To Have Investment Firms Backed By Sovereign Wealth Funds In The Gulf
Both Jared Kushner And Steve Mnuchin Have Investment Firms Backed By Sovereign Wealth Funds In The Gulf. “Mr. Kushner is not the only former Trump administration official to benefit from connections in the Middle East since Mr. Trump’s term ended. Steven T. Mnuchin, the former Treasury secretary, also runs an investment firm with backing from sovereign wealth funds in the Gulf. On Thursday, both he and Mr. Kushner appeared at an investment conference in Miami Beach sponsored by a nonprofit led by the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Yasir al-Rumayyan.” [New York Times, 3/30/23]
President Trump Disclosed Millions In Income From The Saudi Government, And He Plans To Do It Again Since No One Will Stop Him
RECENT TRUMP FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE SHOWS THAT HE RECEIVED MILLIONS FROM GOLF COURSES THAT HELD TOURNAMENTS FUNDED BY THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT
According To Donald Trump’s Personal Financial Disclosure, He Disclosed Over $10,000,000 In Golf Related Revenue In Locations That Have Hosted LIV Golf Tournaments.
[Donald J. Trump, Personal Financial Disclosure, filed 4/14/23]
Trump’s DJT Holdings Is The Primary Owner Of LFB Acquisition LLC – The Paper Trail Appears To Have Been Purposefully Obfuscated To Disguise The Owner Of Trump’s Bedminster Golf Course
The Day Before Being Sworn Into Office, Donald Trump Made Changes To the Membership Interest Of Lamington Farm Club LLC, Which Does Business As The Trump Bedminster Golf Course – Trump’s Changes Created A Web Of Corporations That Led To DJT Holdings Receiving The Vast Majority Of The Funds. “One day before he was sworn into office as the as the most powerful man in the free world, President Donald Trump made changes to the ownership at his Bedminster golf course. On Jan. 19, 2017, ‘a change occurred’ in the membership interest of Lamington Farm Club, LLC, which does business as Trump National Golf Club – Bedminster, according to a public legal notice published in the Courier News around the time of the changes. […] The changes made to the ownership at Trump National create a web of corporations and limited liability companies, some with similar sounding names. […] The breakdown of ownership, according to the legal notice, is as follows: LFB Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is a member and owner of 100 percent of Lamington Farm Club, LLC. DJT Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is a member and owner of 99 percent of LFB Acquisition LLC. LFB Acquisition Member Corp., a Delaware corporation, is the managing member and owner of one percent of LFB Acquisition LLC. DJT Holdings Managing Member LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is a member and owner of 100 percent of LFB Acquisition Member Corp. and a member and owner of one percent of DJT Holdings LLC. The Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust dated April 7, 2014, is a member and owner of 99 percent of DJT Holdings LLC and a member and owner of 100 percent of DJT Holdings Managing Member LLC.” [My Central Jersey, 1/19/18]
It Is Well Reported On, That Donald Trump Hides Behind Several LLC’s That Inevitably Lead Back To The Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust
According To Donald Trump’s Personal Financial Disclosure, He Listed DJT Holdings LLC As Being Primarily Owned By The Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust. [Donald J. Trump, Personal Financial Disclosure, filed 4/14/23]
2017: Donald Trump Placed His Eldest Son, And Allen Weisselberg As Trustees Of The Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust – Trump Would Receive Reports On Any Profit Or Loss And Could Revoke His Decision At Any Time. “While the president says he has walked away from the day-to-day operations of his business, two people close to him are the named [Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust] trustees and have broad legal authority over his assets: his eldest son, Donald Jr., and Allen H. Weisselberg, the Trump Organization’s chief financial officer. Mr. Trump, who will receive reports on any profit, or loss, on his company as a whole, can revoke their authority at any time.” [New York Times, 2/3/17]
ProPublica: “Trump Lawyer Confirms President Can Pull Money From His Businesses Whenever He Wants” [ProPublica, 4/4/17]
- Changes To Donald Trump’s Trust Document Stipulated That It, “Shall Distribute Net Income Or Principal To Donald J. Trump At His Request’” And Whenever His Son Or Attorney “Deem Appropriate.” “The previously unreported changes to a trust document, signed on Feb. 10, stipulates that it ‘shall distribute net income or principal to Donald J. Trump at his request’ or whenever his son and longtime attorney ‘deem appropriate.’ That can include everything from profits to the underlying assets, such as the businesses themselves.” [ProPublica, 4/4/17]
Washington Post: “Trump Can Quietly Draw Money From Trust Whenever He Wants, New Documents Show” [Washington Post, 4/3/17]
- Legal Experts Claimed Trump Was “Still The Beneficiary Of All These Assets.” “’He’s still the beneficiary of all these assets. He is still entitled to the income and the profits of the trust if he wants them,’ said Beth Shapiro Kaufman, the president of law firm Caplin & Drysdale, who reviewed the trust document. ‘Has he put these things out of his control and out of his personal benefit? The answer is no.’” [Washington Post, 4/3/17]
A YEAR AFTER HIS PRESIDENCY, TRUMP BEGAN HOSTING SAUDI FUNDED GOLF TOURNAMENTS AND STARTED PLANNING DEVELOPMENTS IN OMAN
A Year After His Presidency, Donald Trump Began Hosting Golf Tournaments Backed By Saudi Funds And Secured An Agreement With A Saudi Real Estate Company That Planned To Build A Trump Hotel As Part Of A $4 Billion Golf Resort In Oman. “A year after his presidency, Trump’s golf courses began hosting tournaments for the Saudi fund-backed LIV Golf. Separately, the former president’s family company, the Trump Organization, secured an agreement with a Saudi real estate company that plans to build a Trump hotel as part of a $4 billion golf resort in Oman.” [Washington Post, 2/12/23]
Eric Trump Praised LIV And Claimed It Was “Doing Incredible Things” And “And It Should Be No Surprise That We Were Asked To Host These Amazing Events.” “Eric Trump, Trump’s son who is also the executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said in a statement that ‘LIV is doing incredible things for the game of golf and it should be no surprise that we were asked to host these amazing events.’ Trump has also previously said he did tens of millions of dollars of business with Saudis before becoming president.” [Washington Post, 2/12/23]
IN 2022, TRUMP HELD TWO LIV TOURNAMENTS, ONE IN MIAMI AND ONE IN BEDMINSTER – TRUMP PARTICIPATED IN AN EVENT HIMSELF, AND IT IS ESTIMATED HE MADE MILLIONS
10/27/22: Trump Played In The LIV Tournament Pro-Am Event. “Former President Donald Trump will play in the Pro-Am — closed to the public — on Oct. 27.” [Palm Beach Post, 10/24/22]
HEADLINE: “Here’s How LIV Golf’s $50 Million Season-Ending Team Event At Miami’s Trump National Doral Will Work.” [Palm Beach Post, 10/24/22]
- LIV’S Final Event Included A $50 Million Grand Prize. “LIV’s final event will be held Oct. 28-30, a three-day extravaganza on the Blue Monster that will determine the series’ season-long team champion and include a $50 million purse, double the prize money for each of the first seven events. The winning team will split $16 million and all 12 teams receive prize money.” [Palm Beach Post, 10/24/22]
LIV Held An Event On July 29th 2022 At The Trump National Golf Club In Bedminster.
[Trump Golf, accessed 4/19/23]
Former PGA President, Ted Bishop, Claimed That Major Golf Tournaments Pay $2-3 Million To Play On A Course, Not Including Other Revenue Such As Merchandise, Food, Beverage, And Sponsorships. “Ted Bishop, a former PGA president, said in an interview that a major tournament typically pays $2 million to $3 million to play on a course, not counting other revenue such as sponsorships, merchandise, and food and beverage.” [Washington Post, 2/12/23]
Golf Writer, Alan Shipnuck, Claimed The Numbers On How Much Trump Got Paid To Host The Bedminster Golf Tournament Were Unclear But Ranged Between $2.8 Million – $4.5 Million Depending On Who Was Asked. “According to longtime golf writer Alan Shipnuck, the numbers are a bit murky when it comes to just how much Trump was paid to host this past weekend’s event. ‘Trump Bedminster was paid $2.8 million (according to the Trump Organization) or $4.5 million (according to club members),’ Shipnuck wrote in his recap of the event. But whatever Trump is being paid, it clearly has already been worth it to the people doing the paying.” [Business Insider, 8/2/22]
TRUMP HAS URGED GOLF PLAYERS TO “TAKE THE MONEY” AND JOIN LIV GOLF AND WARNED OF CONSEQUENCES TO THOSE THAT DIDN’T
Former President Donald Trump Urged Players To “Take The Money” And Join The LIV Golf Invitational Series, And Warned Those That Stayed With PGA Would Pay A Bigger Price For Staying Put. “July 19 (Reuters) – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has urged players to ‘take the money’ and join the LIV Golf Invitational Series, suggesting that those who remain loyal to the PGA Tour will ultimately pay a bigger price for staying put.” [Reuters, 7/19/22]
Trump Wrote On Truth Social That Golfers Who Remained With PGA Would Pay A Big Price, Said There Would Be An “Inevitable” Merger With LIV. “‘All of those golfers that remain ‘loyal’ to the very disloyal PGA, in all of its different forms, will pay a big price when the inevitable MERGER with LIV comes, and you get nothing but a big ‘thank you’ from PGA officials who are making Millions of Dollars a year,” Trump wrote this week on the social medial platform Truth Social. ‘If you don’t take the money now, you will get nothing after the merger takes place, and only say how smart the original signees were.’” [Reuters, 7/19/22]
LIV IS ALMOST ENTIRELY OWNED BY THE SAUDI WEALTH FUND – THE FUND COVERS 100% OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH EVENTS
Court Hearing Documents Revealed The Saudi Public Investment Fund Owned 93% Of LIV And Paid 100% Of Costs Associated With Events. “That control is indisputable: in a January 13 hearing it was revealed that the [Saudi Public Investment] Fund owns 93 percent of LIV and pays 100 percent of the costs associated with its events, rendering laughable any defense that it’s a mere bystander to the antitrust litigation.” [Golf Week, USA Today, 1/14/23]
- The Saudi Public Investment Fund Covers 100 Percent Of Tournament Costs – Trump Held Two Tournaments In Trump Properties In 2022. “Starting last year, LIV Golf hosted two tournaments at Trump properties, with recent court proceedings revealing that the Public Investment Fund covers 100 percent of tournament costs, according to coverage of the case.” [Washington Post, 2/12/23]
Critics Of LIV Golf Have Called It A Saudi Funded Effort At “Sportswashing” To Divert Attention From The Killing Of Jamal Khashoggi And The Saudi Government’s Human Rights Record. “Critics of LIV Golf have called the Saudi funding an effort at “sportswashing,” meant to divert attention from the killing of Khashoggi and its record on human rights. “I think the vast majority of golf fans oppose LIV Golf because it is a moral question,” Bishop said.” [Washington Post, 2/12/23]
The Saudi Investment In The Trump Family Came After A U.S. State Department Report Came Out Citing Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Abuses
The Saudi’s Investment In The Trump Family Came As The U.S. State Department Said In A 2021 Report That “Significant Human Rights Issues” Occurred In Saudi Arabia, Citing Credible Reports Of Torture And Executions For Non-Violent Crimes. “The investments by the Saudis came as the U.S. State Department said in a 2021 report that there continued to be ‘significant human rights issues’ in Saudi Arabia, citing ‘credible reports’ of torture and executions for nonviolent offenses.” [Washington Post, 2/12/23]
TRUMP USED HIS PRESIDENTIAL POWERS TO APPEASE SAUDI ARABIA, OPENLY FAVORING AND CLEARING ROADBLOCKS FOR THEM
Trump Admitted He “Saved” Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman In The Wake Of The CIA’s Findings Regarding The Murder Of Jamal Khashoggi. “They also underscore the crucial nature of Trump’s admission that he ‘saved’ Mohammed in the wake of the CIA’s finding that the crown prince ordered the killing or capture of Post contributing opinion columnist Jamal Khashoggi.” [Washington Post, 2/12/23]
- According To Reporting By Bob Woodward, Trump Claimed He “Saved His Ass” In Reference To Mohamed Bin Salman’s Involvement With The Murder Of Jamal Khashoggi – According To Mike Pompeo’s Book, President Trump Told Him “Tell Him He Owes Us.” “The next month, the CIA concluded that Mohammed had ‘approved an operation’ to kill or capture Khashoggi, which the prince denied. Mohammed’s years-long effort to rise to power was in grave danger. But, as Trump later put it in a recorded interview, ‘I saved his ass,’ according to ‘The Trump Tapes’ by Post associate editor Bob Woodward. Trump refused to endorse the CIA’s conclusion, equivocated about Mohammed’s involvement, opposed releasing of the report and vetoed a congressional bill to block arms sales to the kingdom. The president sent Mike Pompeo, who had replaced Tillerson as secretary of state, to meet with the prince and remind him of his debt. ‘My Mike, go and have a good time. Tell him he owes us,’ Pompeo recalled in his 2023 memoir, ‘Never Give An Inch.’ Pompeo did not respond to a request for comment.” [Washington Post, 2/12/23]
Trump Picked Riyadh For His First Presidential Trip Abroad, Which The Saudis Welcomed With Open Arms And Announcements Of An Arms Deal. “In May 2017, Trump picks Riyadh for his first trip abroad since entering office, an unprecedented move for a newly elected president. The Saudis give him a regal welcome, awarding Trump a medal, announcing plans for arms and business deals and inviting the president to take part in a traditional sword dance.” [NBC News, 7/25/19]
Trump Ensured Billions In Arms Went To Saudi Arabia, While Shielding Them From Accountability For War Crimes And Human Rights Violations In Yemen
Trump Vetoed Congressional Resolutions Aimed At Blocking His Administration From Selling Billions Of Dollars Of Weapons To Saudi Arabia. “President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed a trio of congressional resolutions aimed at blocking his administration from selling billions of dollars of weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.” [Associated Press, 7/25/19]
The Trump Administration Notified Congress In 2017 That It Would Resume Sales Of Precision-Guided Bombs To Saudi Arabia That Were Suspended By The Obama Administration Due To The Civilian Deaths Caused From Saudi-Led Airstrikes In Yemen. “The Trump administration notifies Congress in June 2017 that it plans to resume sales of precision-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia that were suspended by Obama over concerns about civilian deaths from Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in Yemen.” [NBC News, 7/25/19]
The Trump Administration Threatened To Veto A Resolution Drafted By Britain To Demand Accountability For War Crimes In Yemen And For Saudi Arabia To Provide Unfettered Access To Food And Medicine To Yemeni Ports. “In December 2018, the Trump administration threatens to veto a resolution drafted by Britain demanding accountability for war crimes in the Yemen conflict and for Saudi Arabia and other states to ensure unfettered access for shipments of food and medicine to ports in Yemen. A resolution with watered-down language is eventually adopted.” [NBC News, 7/25/19]
Trump Vetoed A Resolution That Sought To End U.S. Involvement In The Saudi-Led War In Yemen. “President Donald Trump has vetoed a congressional resolution that sought to end U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen, the White House said on Tuesday.” [Reuters, 4/16/19]
LAWMAKERS AND EXPERTS EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT TRUMP’S TIES TO SAUDI ARABIA
Lawmakers Have Expressed Concern That Trump And Kushner’s Business Ties Could Leave Them Beholden To The Crown Prince If They Return To The White House. “Democrats who have launched congressional investigations into Trump’s and Kushner’s ties to Saudi Arabia said there is no precedent for how the two have relied so significantly on Saudi investments in their businesses after directly helping Mohammed while in office. The lawmakers expressed concern that such business ties could leave them beholden to the crown prince if they return to the White House.” [Washington Post, 2/12/23]
Chair Of The Senate Finance Committee, Senator Ron Wyden, Stated The Financial Links Between The Saudi Royal Family And The Trump Family “Raise Very Serious Issues.” “’The financial links between the Saudi royal family and the Trump family raise very serious issues,’ said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who chairs the Senate Finance Committee and for several years has been investigating various ties between the Saudis, Trump and Kushner, ‘and when you factor in Jared Kushner’s financial interests, you are looking right at the cat’s cradle of financial entanglements.’” [Washington Post, 2/12/23]
IN 2023, TRUMP WILL HOST THREE MORE LIVE GOLF TOURNAMENTS, INCLUDING ONE IN WASHINGTON D.C.
2023: LIV Golf Announced It Would Host Three Tournaments On Trump Properties In Washington DC, Bedminster, And Doral. “LIV Golf said Monday it will host tournaments at the Trump National Golf Club in Washington, D.C.; Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, in Bedminster, New Jersey; and the Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida.” [CBS News, 1/30/23]
- On May 26th, 2023, The Trump National Golf Club Washington DC Will Host A LIV Golf Tournament. [DC, Events, Liv Golf, accessed 4/19/23]
- On August 11th, 2023, The Trump National Golf Club Bedminster Will Host A LIV Golf Tournament. [DC, Events, Liv Golf, accessed 4/19/23]
- On October 20th, 2023, The Trump National Doral Golf Course Will Host A LIV Golf Tournament. [Miami, Events, Liv Golf, accessed 4/19/23]
TRUMP COULD EARN MILLIONS FROM THREE GOLF COURSES HOSTING THE GOLF TOURNAMENTS
According To Donald Trump’s Personal Financial Disclosure, DJT Holdings Will Receive 100% Of The Income From Golf Related Revenue Of The Three Courses Liv Will Be Playing At – Valued At Over $15 Million.
[Donald J. Trump, Personal Financial Disclosure, filed 4/14/23]
Golf Writer, Alan Shipnuck, Claimed The Numbers On How Much Trump Got Paid To Host The Bedminster Golf Tournament Were Unclear But Ranged Between $2.8 Million – $4.5 Million Depending On Who Was Asked. “According to longtime golf writer Alan Shipnuck, the numbers are a bit murky when it comes to just how much Trump was paid to host this past weekend’s event. ‘Trump Bedminster was paid $2.8 million (according to the Trump Organization) or $4.5 million (according to club members),’ Shipnuck wrote in his recap of the event. But whatever Trump is being paid, it clearly has already been worth it to the people doing the paying.” [Business Insider, 8/2/22]
Trump’s Business Received Millions From A State-Owned Chinese Bank While He Was In Office
DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE, PRESIDENT TRUMP’S BUSINESSES RECEIVED MILLIONS FROM A CHINESE STATE-OWNED BANK
HEADLINE: “Forbes Estimates China Paid Trump At Least $5.4 Million Since He Took Office, Via Mysterious Trump Tower Lease” [Forbes, 10/23/20]
Despite Claiming He Doesn’t Make Money From China, Forbes Reported That $5.4 Million Went Towards The President’s Businesses As Part Of A Lease Agreement Involving A State-Owned Bank In Trump Tower. “President Donald Trump, who declared ‘I don’t make money from China’ in Thursday night’s presidential debate, has in fact collected millions of dollars from government-owned entities in China since he took office. Forbes estimates that at least $5.4 million has flowed into the president’s business from a lease agreement involving a state-owned bank in Trump Tower.” [Forbes, 10/23/20]
- The Industrial And Commercial Bank Of China Signed A Lease For A Space In Trump Tower In 2008 Paying $1.9 Million In Annual Rent – In 2015, Trump Pointed Journalists To The Industrial Bank Of China And Claimed “I Have The Best Tenants In The World.” “The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China signed a lease for space in 2008, years before the president took office, paying about $1.9 million in annual rent. Trump is well-aware of the deal. ‘I’ll show you the Industrial Bank of China,’ he told three Forbes journalists touring Trump Tower in 2015. ‘I have the best tenants in the world in this building.’” [Forbes, 10/23/20]
- The Bank’s Lease Was Set To Expire In 2019, But Eric Trump Said The Chinese State-Owned Bank Would Keep “A Couple Of Floors” In Trump Tower. “The lease was set to expire on October 31, 2019, according to a debt prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In 2018, the state-owned bank agreed to a new lease in a different office building nearby, suggesting it might leave Trump Tower. But then, the bank decided to stay in the president’s building anyway. “They are keeping a couple of floors,” Eric Trump confirmed onstage at a business conference in October 2019.” [Forbes, 10/23/20]
Jared Kushner Coordinated With Wendi Murdoch To Convene A Secret Investor Meeting In Beijing During The Trump Administration’s Trip To Asia
IN NOVEMBER 2017, CHINESE VENTURE CAPITALIST, HUGE SHONG, REVEALED TO CNBC THAT HE MET WITH JARED KUSHNER AND A SMALL GROUP OF INVESTORS IN BEIJING IN A MEETING NOT PREVIOUSLY DISCLOSED BY THE WHITE HOUSE OR STATE DEPARTMENT
2017: Chinese Venture Capitalist, Hugo Shong, Revealed He Accepted An Invitation From The Trump Administration To A Small Investor Forum Convened By Jared Kushner And Another U.S. Official That Was Not Listed In White House Or State Department’s Agendas During Their Visit To Beijing. “In November 2017, CNBC had booked Hugo Shong, a prominent Chinese venture capitalist, to talk about bilateral business relations between the United States and China, as the first year of President Donald Trump’s tenure was nearing a close. Trump was on a 12-day tour through Asia, his second major international trip since taking office. On the agenda during his two-day stop in Beijing: bilateral meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Kequiang; a ‘meet-and-greet’ with U.S. Embassy staff; a speech and business event at the Great Hall of the People; and a receiving line at a state dinner. What wasn’t on the White House or State Department agendas: a meeting with private equity investors convened by Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior advisor, and U.S. Ambassador Terry Branstad. During our conversation with Shong at the time, he revealed he had accepted the administration’s invitation for Chinese investors to offer advice in a small-group forum with the two U.S. officials as they worked to outline the administration’s policy.” [CNBC, 1/30/20]
U.S. OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THE EXISTENCE OF THE MEETING AND CLAIMED IT WAS ARRANGED BY WENDI DENG MURDOCH
The Meeting Was Arranged By Wendi Deng Murdoch, According To Then-U.S. Officials, No Official Government Or Personal Business Was Discussed. “The meeting and its guest list, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to CNBC after this story was first published, was arranged by Wendi Deng Murdoch, a longtime friend of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. According to the officials, who requested anonymity to discuss the meeting, the event was a “casual lunch” at which no official business – government or personal – was discussed.” [CNBC, 1/30/20]
WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS COULD NOT PROVIDE DETAILS ON THE ATTENDEES OF THE MEETING, BUT CLAIMED NO REAL ESTATE INVESTORS WERE PRESENT
White House Officials Did Not Provide Details On The Attendees At The Investor Meeting, But Claimed No Real Estate Investors Were Present. “CNBC sought to learn about the agenda at the private investor meeting convened by Kushner in China, on the sidelines of the president’s official visit, and how the attendees were selected. A White House official had subsequently confirmed the existence of the meeting to CNBC, but when pressed on attendees, the official would only say no real estate investors were present.” [CNBC, 1/30/20]
KUSHNER DROPPED OUT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ASIA TRIP AFTER THE BEIJING STOP
2017 Politico: Jared Kushner And Ivanka Trump Were Expected To Drop Out Of Trump’s 12-Day Asia Trip After Their Beijing Stop. “Ivanka Trump is scheduled to speak at a women’s event in Tokyo on Nov. 3, where she will focus on her pet issue of women’s entrepreneurship. And while she has been eager to participate in the China portion of the trip, she and Kushner are expected to drop out after the Beijing stop, a White House aide said.” [Politico, 10/25/17]
Kushner Participated In China Policy Meetings With White House Officials, Including More Than A Dozen Cabinet Secretaries And Senior Officials On The Front-Line Of Managing The U.S. China Relationship. “Kushner, for his part, still participates in China policy meetings at the White House, administration officials said. But now, instead of serving as the point man, he’s one voice at a table that includes more than a dozen Cabinet secretaries and senior White House officials who are considered to have a front-line role in managing the U.S.-China relationship.” [Politico, 10/25/17]
Kushner’s Family Was Already In The Hot Seat For Their Aggressive Pursuit Of Investors While Kushner Advised Trump On Foreign Policy
At The Time Of The Meeting, The Kushner’s Were Under Fire For Their Pursuit Of Overseas Investors, While Jared Kushner Occupied A Senior Role Advising Trump On Foreign Policy With China And Mexico. “At the time of the meeting, the Kushner family was under fire for its pursuit of overseas investors while Jared Kushner occupied a senior role advising the president on foreign policy ranging from Middle East peace to trade with China and Mexico.” [CNBC, 1/30/20]
In One Instance, Kushner’s Sister Pointed To Jared Directly As A Reason For Why Chinese Investors Should Come To The United States For A Business Project
Prior To The Beijing Meeting, Jared Kushner’s Sister, Nicole Kushner Meyer, Referred To Jared At An Event Urging Wealthy Chinese Investors To Buy $500,000 Visas To Come To The United States And Participate In An Upcoming Project, Kushner’s Status Was A Draw For Investors – Meyer Issued An Apology. “In the months immediately prior to the meeting, Kushner’s sister Nicole Kushner Meyer referred to Jared at an event urging wealthy Chinese investors to buy $500,000 visas to come to the United States and participate in an upcoming New Jersey project. The Washington Post and New York Times reported that investors at the Beijing sales pitch saw Jared Kushner’s celebrity status as a draw. Meyer later issued a formal apology, saying it was not her intention to use Jared to ‘lure investors.’” [CNBC, 1/30/20]
KUSHNER HAD AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE AND FACILITATED ACCESS TO DONALD TRUMP
New York Times: “China Learns How to Get Trump’s Ear: Through Jared Kushner” [New York Times, 4/2/17]
Chinese Ambassador, Cui Tiankai, Established A Back Channel With Jared Kushner, Which The Two Men Used To Coordinate Xi Jinping’s Meeting With Donald Trump. “When President Trump welcomes President Xi Jinping of China to his palm-fringed Florida club for two days of meetings on Thursday, the studied informality of the gathering will bear the handiwork of two people: China’s ambassador to Washington and Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. […] The Chinese ambassador, Cui Tiankai, has established a busy back channel to Mr. Kushner, according to several officials briefed on the relationship. The two men agreed on the club, Mar-a-Lago, as the site for the meeting, and the ambassador even sent Mr. Kushner drafts of a joint statement that China and the United States could issue afterward.” [New York Times, 4/2/17]
Kushner Had Already Orchestrated A Phone Call Between Trump And Xi With The Help Of Mr. Cui, And It Was During That Exchange Trump Pledged To Abide By The “One China” Policy. “Mr. Kushner first made his influence felt in early February when he and Mr. Cui orchestrated a fence-mending phone call between Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi. During that exchange, Mr. Trump pledged to abide by the four-decade-old “One China” policy on Taiwan, despite his earlier suggestion that it was up for negotiation.” [New York Times, 4/2/17]
While Serving In The Trump Administration, Ivanka Trump Received Over 34 Chinese Trademarks, It Coincided With A Dangerous Trump Policy In China
HEADLINE: “Ivanka Trump Dined With China’s President On The Same Day Her Company Won 3 Chinese Trademarks” [Glamour, 4/18/17]
CHINESE TRADEMARKS AWARED TO IVANKA TRUMP WERE APPROVED 40% FASTER DURNG HER TIME IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
New York Times: “Ms. Trump Now Has 34 Trademarks In China That Would Allow Her To Capitalize On Her Brand In The World’s Second-Largest Economy.” [New York Times, 5/28/18]
Forbes: Ivanka Trump Received 41 Chinese Trademarks From March 2017 To April 2019 At A Rate 40 Percent Faster Than Those She Sought Out Before Her Father’s Inauguration. “Trump has other financial connections to China. The New York Times revealed Tuesday that the U.S. president has a bank account in China. His daughter, Ivanka Trump, received 41 Chinese trademarks from the time she was appointed a White House adviser in March 2017 to April 2019, according to an analysis of documents. The review also showed that the trademarks Ivanka applied for after her father’s inauguration got approved about 40% faster than those she sought out beforehand.” [Forbes, 10/23/20]
- HEADLINE: “China Grants 18 Trademarks In 2 Months To Trump, Daughter” [Associated Press, 11/6/18]
- HEADLINE: “Ivanka Trump Receives 5 Trademarks From China Amid Trade Talks” [CBS News, 1/21/19]
SEVERAL TRADEMARKS WERE APPROVED FOLLOWING TRUMP’S ANNOUNCEMENT TO SAVE ZTE, A CHINESE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
HEADLINE: “Ivanka Trump Wins China Trademarks, Then Her Father Vows to Save ZTE” [New York Times, 5/28/18]
- New York Times Reported That China Awarded Ivanka Trump Seven New Trademarks Around The Same Time President Trump Vowed To Prevent A Major Chinese Telecommunications Company From Going Bust. “BEIJING — China this month awarded Ivanka Trump seven new trademarks across a broad collection of businesses, including books, housewares and cushions. At around the same time, President Trump vowed to find a way to prevent a major Chinese telecommunications company from going bust, even though the company has a history of violating American limits on doing business with countries like Iran and North Korea. Coincidence? Well, probably.” [New York Times, 5/28/18]
- Just Before And After Trump Made A Surprise Announcement Vowing To Save The Chinese Company, ZTE, Ivanka Trump Was Awarded Long-Sought Trademarks Covering Her Name In China. “Mr. Trump said in a surprise announcement on May 13 that he was working with China’s president, Xi Jinping, to save jobs at the Chinese telecommunications company, ZTE. The company was left paralyzed after American officials forbade companies in the United States from selling their chips, software and other goods to ZTE for violating trade controls. Mr. Trump’s announcement was widely seen as a potential peace offering to Beijing as the United States and China threatened each other with tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of trade. Just before and after that announcement, Ms. Trump won some long-sought trademarks covering her name in China.” [New York Times, 5/28/18]
- Ivanka Trump Applied To Six Trademarks In March 2017, And Seven In May 2016 – Their Approval Was Faster Than The Typical 18 Month Wait And Charles Feng, Intellectual Property Lawyer, Claimed “From Application To Registration, This Is Very Fast.” “‘Ms. Trump applied for six of the trademarks in March 2017. She applied for the seventh even earlier, in May 2016. China’s trademark office usually takes up to 18 months to approve trademarks, said Charles Feng, head of the intellectual property division at the law firm East & Concord Partners. ‘From application to registration, this is very fast,’ he said.” [New York Times, 5/28/18]
- The Approvals For Ivanka’s Applications Made In 2017 Came Six Days Prior To Trump’s ZTE Announcement. “The five approvals, for applications made in 2017, came through on 7 May. On 13 May, Trump made the surprise announcement that he had instructed the Department of Commerce to help get ZTE ‘back into business.” [New York Times, 5/28/18]
FORMER HEAD OF THE NATIONAL COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY CENTER VALIDATED CLAIMS THAT COMPANIES LIKE ZTE WERE USED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO ONDUCT ESPIONAGE
HEADLINE: “Top Intelligence Official Says Chinese ZTE Cellphones Pose Security Risk To U.S.” [NBC News, 5/15/18]
NBC News: ZTE Broke U.S. Treasury And Commerce Rules When It Sold Hardware Incorporating American Technology To Iran And North Korea In Violation Of Sanctions Against Those Countries And Rewarded Company Officials Responsible For The Violations. “As NBC News reported Monday, ZTE ran afoul of the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments when it sold hardware incorporating American technology to Iran and North Korea in violation of U.S. sanctions against those countries. In March, ZTE agreed to pay $1.2 billion, but when Commerce Department officials discovered a month later that ZTE had rewarded rather than punished the company officials responsible for the violations, it implemented a ‘denial order’ prohibiting U.S. companies from selling their goods to ZTE for seven years.” [NBC News, 5/15/18]
Sen. Ron Wyden Questioned Bill Evanina, Who Was Facing A Confirmation Vote To Head The National Counter Intelligence And Security Agency, When Evanina Claimed U.S. Intelligence Agencies Were On Record Asserting That Chinese Telecommunication Firms Are Used As A Vehicle By The Chinese Government To Conduct Espionage. “Bill Evanina, who is facing a confirmation vote to head the newly created National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said he was not up to speed on the sanctions against ZTE, and he declined to say whether lifting them would be a good idea. But under questioning by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Evanina said U.S. intelligence agencies are on record as assessing that Chinese telecommunication firms are used as a vehicle by the Chinese government to conduct espionage. And, answering a question from Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., he said he would never use a ZTE phone.” [NBC News, 5/15/18]
- Evanina Also Claimed He Would Never Use A ZTE Phone. “But under questioning by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Evanina said U.S. intelligence agencies are on record as assessing that Chinese telecommunication firms are used as a vehicle by the Chinese government to conduct espionage. And, answering a question from Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., he said he would never use a ZTE phone.” [NBC News, 5/15/18]
November 2021: President Biden Signed Legislation Tightening Restrictions On ZTE Due To It Being Deemed A Security Threat To The United States
HEADLINE: “Biden Signs Legislation To Tighten U.S. Restrictions On Huawei, ZTE” [Reuters, 11/11/21]
November 2021: Joe Biden Signed Legislation To Prevent Companies Like ZTE From Receiving New Equipment Licenses From U.S. Regulators Due To Being Deemed Security Threats. “U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday signed legislation to prevent companies like Huawei Technologies Co (HWT.UL) or ZTE Corp (000063.SZ)that are deemed security threats from receiving new equipment licenses from U.S. regulators. The Secure Equipment Act, the latest effort by the U.S. government to crack down on Chinese telecom and tech companies, was approved unanimously by the U.S. Senate on Oct. 28 and earlier in the month by the U.S. House on a 420-4 vote.” [Reuters, 11/11/21]
Comer Has Refused To Sound The Alarm When It Comes To The Trump Family – Meanwhile They Continue To Line Their Pockets
THE FUNDS COMER SAYS HUNTER BIDEN MADE FROM CHINESE ENERGY DEALS ARE A TINY FRACTION OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING HANDLED BY JARED KUSHNER AND HIS FIRM
Washington Post Column: “Comer Sounds Alarm About Presidential Family Members Not Named Kushner.” [Philip Bump, Washington Post, 4/11/23]
A Comparison Of Hunter Biden’s Reported Chinese Energy Deals Show They Would Be Less Than 5% Of What Kushner’s Private Firm Received And Less Than One Half Of 1% Of The $2 Billion Saudi Fund Investment He Received. “Now we come back to Trump and Kushner. If Hunter Biden and his business associates made two deals with Chinese energy concerns totaling less than $10 million, that’s less than 5 percent of what Kushner’s firm got from one of the newly reported agreements. It’s one half of 1 percent of the $2 billion a Saudi fund decided to invest with Kushner.” [Philip Bump, Washington Post, 4/11/23]
IN ADDITION, COMER HAS KILLED FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO TRUMP’S FINANCES AND TIES TO AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT MONEY
New York Times: “House Republicans Quietly Halt Inquiry Into Trump’s Finances” [New York Times, 3/13/23]
- NYT: Rep. James Comer Made It Clear He Abandoned Any Investigation Into The Former President’s Financial Dealings. “Representative James R. Comer, Republican of Kentucky and the chairman of the Oversight and Accountability Committee, made clear he had abandoned any investigation into the former president’s financial dealings — professing ignorance about the inquiry Democrats opened when they controlled the House — and was instead focusing on whether President Biden and members of his family were involved in an influence-peddling scheme.” [New York Times, 3/13/23]
- Democrats Accused Comer Of Coordinating With Trump Lawyers To Kill The Investigation Into Trump’s Finances. “[Comer] confirmed the end to the inquiry into Mr. Trump after Democrats wrote to Mr. Comer raising concerns about the fact that Mazars, the former president’s longtime accounting firm that cut ties with him last year, had stopped turning over documents related to his financial dealings. The top Democrat on the panel suggested that Mr. Comer had worked with Mr. Trump’s lawyers to effectively kill the investigation, an accusation the chairman denied.” [New York Times, 3/13/23]
Washington Post: “Comer Stymies Probe Into Trump Tax Records, House Democrats Say” [Washington Post, 3/13/23]
- The Material Provided To The Oversight Committee Showed Authoritarian Governments Spending Extravagantly At Trump Properties While Trump Was President. “The material provided to the committee before Republicans took control of the House in January included documents showing authoritarian governments spending lavishly at Trump-owned properties while Trump was president.” [Washington Post, 3/13/23]
Forbes: “House GOP Calls Off Trump Financial Probe That Revealed Foreign Spending At His Hotel” [Forbes, 3/13/23
Washington Post’s Philip Bump Said That Comer’s Biggest Revelation Has Been That Hunter Biden And His Partners Made A Deal With A Chinese Energy Company, Which Was Reported On In March 2022 And No Evidence Has Pointed To Money Going To Joe Biden. “Despite his delineation in November of nine federal crimes for which he claimed his committee had evidence, Comer’s biggest revelation as chairman is that Hunter Biden and his business partners received money as part of a business deal made with a Chinese energy company after Joe Biden’s tenure as vice president ended in 2017. It has been known for some time that Hunter Biden and Joe Biden’s brother James were involved in deals with Chinese interests; The Washington Post reported on one agreement in March 2022. What hasn’t been shown — despite insinuations from Comer and his allies — is that money went to Joe Biden.” [Philip Bump, Washington Post, 4/11/23]
Washington Post’s Philip Bump Said Under Comer’s Leadership Document Production On How Foreign Actors Spent Money With The Trump Organization Ended. “And: House Oversight was handed documents showing how foreign actors spent money with the Trump Organization as they sought to influence Trump’s administration, while he was in office. But under Comer’s leadership, that document production ended. If the Qataris or other foreign interests were worried about the political fallout of cutting deals with Kushner or the Trump Organization, Comer’s open lack of interest in probing the former president and his family would not seem to be a disincentive.” [Philip Bump, Washington Post, 4/11/23]