Trump Inaugural Committee Gets Third Subpoena

News  |  Feb 28, 2019

The Washington, DC Attorney General has subpoenaed documents from the Trump Inaugural Committee, making it the third government entity to demand information about how the committee raised and spent a record $107 million. 

New York Times

The latest subpoena follows similar demands for documents by federal prosecutors in Manhattan and by New Jersey’s attorney general. It cites a civil statute that governs the operation of nonprofit organizations like the inaugural committee.

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Federal prosecutors are examining whether foreigners illegally contributed to events using Americans as straw donors, a possible violation of criminal law. New Jersey authorities appear to be examining whether the committee obeyed civil statutes governing how nonprofit organizations raise funds, among other matters.

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According to a copy of the subpoena obtained by The New York Times, investigators are seeking to determine whether funds “were wasted, mismanaged and/or improperly provided private benefit, causing the committee to exceed or abuse its authority or act contrary to its nonprofit purpose.”

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The subpoena requests documents identifying what role three of Mr. Trump’s adult children — Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump — played on the committee. None of them had any official role in running the committee, which was overseen by Thomas J. Barrack Jr., a billionaire and friend of Mr. Trump.

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The subpoena seeks records of any payments to any committee official or official’s business, any agreements with a vendor in which a committee official had a financial interest and the committee’s conflict of interest policies.

Wall Street Journal:

“The Presidential Inauguration Committee is in receipt of the subpoena issued by the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, and is in contact with staff regarding this inquiry,” a spokesman for the committee said.

Washington Official Subpoenas Trump Inaugural Committee (NYT)

Trump Inaugural Committee Receives Subpoena From D.C. Attorney General (WSJ) *Note: WSJ articles appear behind a paywall