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Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah is asking the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate Donald Trump Jr. after a report that a Russian oligarch paid for his wedding celebrations in the Bahamas, the Daily Caller reports.
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Shop NowIn a letter to committee leaders Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin, Curtis requested a probe into the “use of presidential family relationships for private financial benefit, preferential treatment, or access by domestic and foreign interests.” He asked the committee to subpoena both Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, citing Hunter’s “substantial business” with Chinese and Ukrainian interests while his father was vice president.
“A toaster is a wedding gift. A private-island party paid for by a Putin-connected oligarch is something else,” Curtis wrote on X. “Republicans nearly wore out the subpoena machine investigating Hunter Biden’s foreign relationships. We should not unplug it now.”
The request follows ProPublica reporting earlier this month that Umar Kremlev paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward Trump Jr.’s wedding expenses, including rental of a private island and a fireworks show. According to ProPublica, Kremlev was part of a delegation that accompanied Russian President Vladimir Putin to China days before the May 24 wedding.
The family has responded. The Associated Press reports that an Instagram post signed by the couple called Kremlev, head of the International Boxing Association, a “dear friend” who “very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding.” The AP also reports that President Trump, who did not attend, defended Kremlev’s involvement but said the money would be paid back.
Curtis’s letter reaches beyond the wedding. He cited the family’s cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial, Trump Jr.’s investments in defense contractors, and his seat on the board of prediction-market company Kalshi. “These reports raise legitimate questions about foreign access to members of a sitting president’s family,” he wrote.
The Daily Caller notes that days before the January 2025 inauguration, UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al Nahyan backed World Liberty Financial with an undisclosed $500 million investment.
Durbin said in a statement, according to the AP, that “for the Committee to ignore this matter is to run the risk of being complicit in a cover-up. I will join in supporting Senator Curtis’ request.” A committee spokesperson confirmed receipt of the letter, the AP reports, but did not say whether the committee will investigate.
