~ ProPublica
Time and again, ProPublica’s journalists have revealed stories like this one — stories that powerful people would rather stay hidden.
The oligarch in question, Umar Kremlev, footed the bill for hundreds of thousands of dollars of Trump Jr.’s wedding expenses, including paying for an elaborate fireworks display and renting a private island for the reception.
And who is Kremlev? He’s the head of the International Boxing Association (IBA), a scandal-plagued sports group that has been financed by the Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom. The Trump Jr. wedding payments came from an IBA-affiliated entity in Dubai that the boxing association uses for financial transactions. Kremlev appears to have met Trump Jr. only recently, but he attended the very intimate destination wedding with a guest list of around 50. It included Trump Jr.’s brother-in-law Jared Kushner, Eric Trump — and Kremlev. The oligarch was part of a large group whose presence puzzled other attendees. They sometimes stood off by themselves, speaking Russian.
“If I’m paying for your wedding, at some point, you’re going to owe me something,” said Frank Montoya Jr., a retired career FBI official who held senior counterintelligence roles. Oligarchs like Kremlev often act in coordination with the Russian government. While it’s unclear if that happened here, Trump Jr. put himself in a precarious position, Montoya said. “This should be unthinkable for the son of the president. End of story.”
“What motivated Kremlev to spend a fortune cultivating the connection? It’s not clear. But I encourage you to read the whole story to see what our reporters uncovered. “
~Robin Sparkman,President, ProPublica
In a statement, Kremlev’s press office said, “Mr. Kremlev and Mr. Trump Jr have a friendly relationship,” and they first met “a couple of years ago.”
The press office described Kremlev as a businessman and philanthropist, adding, “Mr. Kremlev has never discussed political matters with any of his American friends and acquaintances,” including Trump Jr.
Kushner, who has been helping lead the U.S. government’s negotiations with Russia over Ukraine, did not respond to requests for comment. The White House and the Russian government did not respond either.
After our story published, Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina Trump, confirmed Kremlev’s role: “Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us,” they said in a statement. They also drew a distinction between the ceremony held on May 22, which was just family, and the rest of the wedding weekend. “It was an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful,” they added.
ProPublica’s president, Robin Sparkman said, “After our story published, Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina Trump, confirmed Kremlev’s role: “Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us,” they said in a statement. They also drew a distinction between the ceremony held on May 22, which was just family, and the rest of the wedding weekend. “It was an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful,” they added.
Robin Sparkman
President, ProPublica
In May, Donald Trump Jr. had a wedding on a pair of private islands.
ProPublica alleges that Donald Trump Jr.’s lavish wedding in the Bahamas was secretly bankrolled by a Russian oligarch close to President Vladimir Putin. (photo courtesy of ProPublica)