Endless Investigations: Trump Inaugural Committee Hit With Subpoena

If you think Donald Trump’s troubles are over, as soon as special counsel Robert Mueller’s report drops, think again.

This is the problem with electing a man whose entire history is one of deceit, dirty dealing, con artistry, and debt. He didn’t leave his shoddy character back in Manhattan. He took it with him to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and those chickens are coming home to roost.

Elections have consequences.

You voted for a tabloid/reality TV presidency, and that’s what you’ve got.

On Monday, CNN covered the investigation by federal prosecutors in New York, and the subpoenas sent to Trump’s inaugural committee. Specifically, they’re looking for documents relating to donors, vendors, and the finances surrounding Donald Trump’s inauguration festivities.

The wide-ranging subpoena from the Manhattan US attorney’s office requires the committee to turn over documents related to virtually every donor or donation, attendee at a committee event, piece of paperwork related to the legal requirements attached to donations and even “the possibility of” donations made by foreign nationals.

It discloses that prosecutors are investigating a litany of potential crimes: conspiracy against the US, false statements, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, inaugural committee disclosure violations, and violations of laws prohibiting contributions by foreign nations and contributions in the name of another person, also known as straw donors.

It demands documents related to any “benefits” offered to donors, including “tickets, photo opportunities, and/or small group receptions.” It also requires the committee to turn over information about donations made directly to vendors, as well as communications discussing that possibility.

That’s a pretty wide scope, with a serious litany of charges.

To reiterate, this has nothing to do with special counsel Robert Mueller. This is an entirely separate investigation, just as the investigation into Trump’s potential campaign finance law violations, regarding the payoff of his mistresses is an entirely separate investigation.

It’s a separate investigation, just as the investigation into Trump’s now-closed family piggybank, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, is separate.

Am I leaving out any investigations in Trump world?

A spokesperson for the committee said Monday: “We have just received a subpoena for documents. While we are still reviewing the subpoena, it is our intention to cooperate with the inquiry.”

The story of this investigation first dropped back in December 2018. With over $100 million raked in for Trump’s inauguration, there was a question as to if those funds had been misspent, or if they came from foreign sources.

The problem with that is you don’t want foreign players investing in our politicians, lest those politicians become beholden to the interests of those foreign players, rather than our citizens.

The subpoena lists only two specific names: Imaad Zuberi and his investment firm, Avenue Ventures LLC. The subpoena asks for documents related to Zuberi but doesn’t offer any clues as to why his donations may be of interest. Avenue Ventures donated $900,000 to the inaugural fund, Federal Election Commission records show.

Zuberi, for those wondering, is an American-born venture capitalist, who counts among his major investments the Al Areen Palace & Spa resort in Bahrain.

He was also a top fundraiser for Barack Obama’s reelection campaign in 2012, a supporter of the Clinton Foundation, and an economic policy adviser to China.

Tom Barrack, who served as the inaugural committee chairman is keeping quiet, at this time.

That’s probably a good idea, as this will blow up, soon enough.