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P Trump resident's inaugural committee is under investigation for possibly spending part of the $ 107 million it has received to hold a series of projects. events celebrating the beginning of the president's term, according to a report.
Manhattan federal prosecutors are also looking into whether some of the biggest contributors to the committee have given money to win the favor of the new Trump government, in violation of anti-corruption laws, reported Thursday. Wall Street Journal.
The criminal investigation is alleged to have resulted from an investigation by the US Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York into the business relationship of Michael Cohen, the former Trump repairman.
This week, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for violating laws governing campaign financing, taxation and banking. He had also pleaded guilty to having lied to Congress as part of the investigation conducted by Special Advocate Robert Mueller in Russia.
During searches of the Cohen office, home and hotel room in April, investigators obtained a recording of Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, former unpaid counselor to First Lady Melania Trump, raising concerns about the expenses of the inaugural committee, according to the Journal.
Although the newspaper did not determine what expenses had attracted the attention of law enforcement, he indicated that Rick Gates, vice-chair of the committee, had spoken to prosecutors about finances of the organization.
In February, Gates pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States and to a false statement following Mueller's investigation of Russia. He must still be sentenced.
Investigators requested documents from Tennessee developer Franklin Haney, a Cohen customer who donated $ 1 million to the committee, the paper said. The US Attorney's Office in Washington, DC, has also obtained a guilty plea from Sam Patten, a consultant who has ensured that a "well-known Ukrainian oligarch" attends President Trump's inauguration by through a "donor".
Trump's inauguration committee was responsible for, among other things, planning a concert on the National Mall, receptions and inaugural balls.
"[President’s Inaugural Committee] is not aware of any ongoing investigation and has not been contacted by any prosecutor, we simply have no evidence that the investigation exists", said The names of the donors have been communicated to [Federal Election Commission] and have been public for almost two years.These donors have been checked in accordance with the law.Recurities have been noted regarding the selection of these donors. "
Sarah Sanders, White House Press Secretary, told reporters that on Thursday Trump wanted to become president at the time of the investigation and that others were taking over the committee.
"has nothing to do with the president or the first lady," said Sanders.
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