AssetID: 56022431
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Russian Oligarch Close To Putin Helped Pay For Donald Trump Jr's Wedding Celebrations
Caption: Russian Oligarch Close To Putin Helped Pay For Donald Trump Jr's Wedding Celebrations. Donald Trump Jr and his wife Bettina Trump have confirmed that Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev helped pay for their wedding celebrations in May. ProPublica reported that Kremlev spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the three-day celebrations, including an island rental and a large fireworks display. The couple described Kremlev's contribution as an "extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend" and denied it had any political motive. Kremlev has longstanding ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and heads the International Boxing Association, which has received backing from state-owned energy giant Gazprom. According to ProPublica, the wedding payments came through an IBA-affiliated entity in Dubai used by the boxing organisation for financial transactions. Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia called for answers about Kremlev's financial support, questioning what he might have received in return. The payments have raised scrutiny over Trump Jr's relationship with Kremlev and the access a figure close to Putin has gained to President Donald Trump's family. Trump Jr said Kremlev was a personal friend rather than a business associate, while the couple insisted the celebrations were simply a gift from a friend. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Donald Trump Jr,Bettina Trump,Umar Kremlev,Vladimir Putin,Donald Trump,Robert Garcia,ProPublica,International Boxing Association,IBA,Gazprom
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