Yesterday, we reported that Donald Trump may be floating the idea of a preemptive presidential for his three eldest children on his way out the door, and according to bombshell news being reported from CNN, they may very well need it.
While Ivanka Trump hasn’t yet been charged with any crimes, it seemed as though her father was musing over whether or not he should prepare for the very real possibility of it all. Now, reports and court filings indicate that Donald’s eldest daughter and unqualified presidential advisor sat for a deposition earlier this week with D.C. investigators, in connection to the Washington, DC, attorney general’s office’s lawsuit alleging misuse of inaugural funds.
The lawsuit was first brought about in January when the D.C. Attorney General’s office sued both the Trump Organization as well as the Presidential Inaugural Committee, alleging that the two entities abused upwards of $1 million in donations to the nonprofits by “grossly overpaying” for use of event space at Donald’s own property, Trump Hotel in Washington, for the 2017 inauguration event.
According to the report, the AG’s office has been conducting depositions for the past several weeks, with the chairman of the inaugural committee Tom Barrack being deposed on the 17th of last month. The court filing also notes that the attorney general’s office has issued subpoenas for records from Barrack, Ivanka Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and former inaugural committee deputy chairman, Rick Gates.
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In a statement given to CNN, attorney for the Trump Organization, Alan Garten, said, “Ms. Trump’s only involvement was connecting the parties and instructing the hotel to charge a ‘fair market rate’, which the hotel did.”
The lawsuit alleges that Gates “personally managed” the discussions had with Trump Hotel regarding the event space. The lawsuit goes on to note that Ivanka received correspondence from Gates in December of 2016, saying that he was “a bit worried about the optics of PIC [Presidential Inaugural Committee] paying Trump Hotel a high fee and the media making a big story out of it,” according to the lawsuit.”
A total of $175,000 per day was agreed upon with the hotel’s managing director and Trump family members to allow the committee to reserve event space for four days.
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Melania’s former friend and author of a tell-all book, served as the committee’s event planner and warned against the transaction, noting to both the committee and the family that the price was at least double the market rate, according to the lawsuit.
DC Attorney General Karl Racine said Wolkoff “noted unease with the offer during an in-person meeting with President-elect Trump and Ivanka Trump.” She also allegedly sent a follow-up email to Ivanka and Gates to “express [her] concern.”
The lawsuit claims, “The Inaugural Committee accepted the contract anyway.”
Sources familiar with the matter say Wolkoff is set to be deposed next week.
All I can say is, maybe Ivanka should be sweet talking her daddy for that pardon after all. It sounds like she may need it.
Featured image via Political Tribune gallery
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