Manhattan federal prosecutors are examining tens of thousands of documents handed over by Trump’s Inaugural Committee, CNN reported Monday.
The committee finished sending documents this past month, according to the report, suggesting that the investigation has moved into a new phase.
Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York sent the committee a detailed subpoena in February, demanding a range of documents showing the body’s relationship with its vendors and contributors.
The probe reportedly focuses on whether the committee vacuumed up foreign contributions. Though inaugural committees are lightly regulated, U.S. campaign finance law prohibits them from receiving foreign money.
Prosecutors are also reportedly interested in whether the $107 million the committee raised was misspent, whether the committee made false statements to the Federal Election Commission, and whether committee officials where aware of potential foreign contributions.
Manhattan feds have already secured testimony from Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, an associate of Melania Trump’s whose firm took $25 million from the committee as a vendor. Wolkoff received a grand jury subpoena in October 2018 in connection with the investigation.
Sam Patten, a political consultant, admitted to funneling $50,000 to the committee through a straw donor in exchange for tickets for his Ukrainian clients. Patten was sentenced to three years probation last month after a federal judge lauded him for his cooperation in numerous ongoing criminal probes.
Read the CNN report here.
“…and whether committee officials where aware of potential foreign contributions.”
Tens of thousands? Almost as many in attendance to the Inauguration itself.
More.
Those docs could include a check signed by Putin with “thanks for giving us Ukraine” written on the memo line and Pelosi and Schumer would say impeaching Trump isn’t worth it. Because concepts like democracy, freedom, and the rule of law are not worth fighting for if you are Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.
Mueller may be done, but the investigations continue and look to be ramping up from several directions. Trump desperately needs to win in 2020 to evade responsibility and avoid jail, but I don’t think he’ll be able to run out the clock.