GOP Sen. John Curtis Calls Russian Oligarch-Funded Trump Jr. Wedding 'Corruption': 'This Is a Big Deal'
Key Takeaways
- •Sen. John Curtis of Utah publicly labeled the Russian funding of Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding events as corruption and pledged to elaborate on his concerns later.
- •Donald Trump Jr. and his wife Bettina confirmed that Umar Kremlev, an oligarch close to Vladimir Putin, partially paid for their three-day May wedding celebration held across two exclusive private islands.
- •ProPublica reported, citing records and anonymous sources, that Kremlev covered the rental of one island and other major costs, including a large fireworks show, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- •Curtis also criticized record-high gasoline prices, worsening inflation, and the Federal Reserve's quarter-point interest rate increase as key grievances facing voters.
- •Curtis's comments fit a broader pattern of Republicans distancing themselves from Trump before the midterm elections, with Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar having criticized his immigration enforcement efforts.
Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) on Friday publicly accused President Donald Trump's family of "corruption," responding to reports that a Russian oligarch helped pay for Donald Trump Jr.'s luxury wedding celebrations.
"Believe this -- a Russian oligarch paid for a lavish wedding afterparty for Donald Trump Jr., which to me, it just stinks. It's corruption. I don't like it," Curtis said in a video address posted to social media. The senator said he would have more to say on the matter later, asserting for now, "This is a big deal."
As The Guardian explains, "Donald Trump Jr and his wife, Bettina, confirmed on Monday that a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin partially paid for the couple's wedding celebrations in May, following a ProPublica report revealing Umar Kremlev spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the events. Trump Jr., the US president's eldest child, married the Palm Beach socialite in a lavish three-day celebration across two exclusive private islands in May. Citing records and interviews with three anonymous sources familiar with the event, ProPublica reported that Kremlev, a member of the Russian president's circle, footed the bill to rent one of the islands where a reception was held and where guests slept, along with other large expenses, including a huge firework show."
That confirmation placed a figure described as part of Putin's circle at the center of a financial story involving the president's eldest son, and the episode has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum.
Curtis's concerns were not limited to the Trump family. The Utah Republican also pointed to sharply rising gasoline prices:They're reaching new highs, particularly in Utah. Really grumpy everybody is about how much it costs to fill a tank. And we're not seeing any relief on these prices coming at us across the board."
He further cited inflation and rising interest rates as a major problem, noting, "The Fed raised interest rates a quarter point because inflation has worsened. I think we all have to admit that."
The pairing of an ethics accusation with pocketbook grievances offered a snapshot of the issues Curtis and other Republicans are confronting as they face voters. While it remains rare for Republican lawmakers to criticize Trump, conservative critiques have emerged in recent weeks as the midterm elections approach. GOP candidates are well aware that the president is dragging down their electoral chances and have taken steps to distance themselves from him. Many have removed his name and messaging from their campaign materials.
On Thursday, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) released a video in which she criticized Trump directly, saying, "Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far."
With Curtis promising to elaborate "later," his follow-up remarks — and whether other Republicans add their voices to the criticism — will be worth watching as the midterm season unfolds.
