Russian businessman paid for Trump Jr. wedding after-party: 5 things to know

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Blumenthal on report Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding was funded by Russian oligarch

Blumenthal on report Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding was funded by Russian oligarch

New reports of Russia-tied financial backing for the after-party events at the May wedding of President Trump’s eldest son have sparked concerns about potential influences from foreign adversaries in the U.S. government ahead of the midterm elections. 

Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev funded lavish wedding celebrations for Donald Trump Jr. and socialite Bettina Anderson in the Bahamas, including a private island and a fireworks show, according to a ProPublica investigation published on Monday. 

The report raised alarm from Democrats and national security experts about potential ethics violations, as the president and members of his family are typically expected to avoid accepting pricey gifts from adversaries like Russia. 

Here are five things to know about this unusual wedding gift:

Kremlev is the head of the International Boxing Association (IBA), a controversy-plagued sports organization financed by Russia’s state-owned natural gas company, Gazprom. 

The International Olympic Committee removed IBA from its role organizing boxing events at the global sporting event in 2023, citing the group’s refusal to provide transparent financial information. 

Kremlev appealed this decision to Trump in an open letter following his second inauguration last year, expressing the IBA’s interest in seeing the sport represented at the 2028 games in Los Angeles. 

“We are very interested in bringing this event back to your country, and we are more than ready to collaborate in this regard,” Kremlev wrote. 

The Russian oligarch is a close ally to Russian........

© The Hill