Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigators are turning their sites on President Donald Trump’s record-breaking inaugural committee fundraising haul – with a focus on donors tied to Russia and the Middle East.
Among the names that have surfaced in connection to the committee that put on a series of lavish events for Trump’s inaugural are two men who also surfaced in a new document showing contributions to longtime Trump attorney Michael Cohen.
One of the men, Andrew Intrater, who donated $250,000 to Trump’s inaugural, ABC News reported. Intrater also contributed $35,000 to Trump Victory PAC, a joint fundraising committee, and $29,600 to the Republican National Comittee.
Intrater also came up in a document porn star Stormy Daneils’ attorney Michael Avenatti released showing that his firm, Columbus Nova LLC, gave $500,000 to Cohen during 2017. Intrater is CEO of the firm.
LETS PARTY: Investigators are interested in inaugural donors with foreign ties
Mueller’s team has been quizzing witnesses about Trump inaugural donors, including Andrew Intrater, who donated $250,000
The firm is connected to Renova Group, which is controlled by Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg.
Intrater and Vekselberg attended Trump’s inauguration together.
Mueller’s team has interviewed Tom Barrack, who ran the inauguration for Trump and oversaw its record haul.
He was one of two dozen business leaders to meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin last year, Bloomberg reported, and Vekselberg has been sanction by the U.S. following Russia’s election meddling.
According to ABC’s report, Mueller’s team questioned witnesses about donors with ties to not only Russia, but also Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, based on a source who sat for recent interviews.
Renova Group Board Chairman Viktor Vekselberg attended Trump’s inauguration. His company is tied to Columbus Novo, whose CEO was a major inaugural donor
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team has been focusing on the Trump inauguration committee, which set a $107 million record for its haul
Trump hauled in $107 million for the inaugural blowout, doubling what Barack Obama raised in 2009, a prior record.
Some of the donors provided gifts to the committee that surpassed $1 million.
Columbus Novo didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Other questions have focused on businessmen Leonard Blavatnik. Neither Blavatnik or Intrater are accused of wrongdoing, according to ABC.
Blavatnik, whose Access Industries gave $1 million, is a dual U.S. British citizen. The Soviet-born Blavatnik also attended the inauguration, the Washington Post reported.
Trump hauled in $107 million for the inaugural blowout, doubling what Barack Obama raised in 2009, a prior record. Tom Barrack, here speaking with members of the press at Trump Tower in New York City, U.S. January 10, 2017, oversaw the effort
Leonard Blavatnik attends the Vanity Fair and HBO Dinner celebrating the Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 20, 2017 in Cap d’Antibes, France
After porn star Stormy Daniels’ attorney revealed Columbus Nova’s fees to Michael Cohen and said they could represent influence peddling or obscuring payments by Vekselberg’s firm, the firm responded that Columbus ‘has managed assets on behalf of Renova Group companies and other clients. Columbus Nova itself is not now, and has never been, owned by any foreign entity or person including Viktor Vekselberg or the Renova Group.’
ABC’s report does not mention Moscow-born Alexander Shustorovich, the CEO of IMG Artists performing agency, who gave $1 million to the inauguration. In 2000 he tried to give $250,000 to the Republican Party during George W. Bush’s presidential campaign but was rejected.