![]() “The result is that real estate agents have no legal obligation to screen their clients for signs of money laundering, so they don’t,” said Elise Bean, former staff director of a Senate subcommittee that investigated money laundering. ![]() In the United States, unlike in other countries, real estate professionals are exempt from adopting anti-money laundering programs that could identify suspicious buyers. The company, some would argue, has done all that is legally required. The Trump Organization, the company comprised of about 500 businesses owned by the president and now run by his adult sons, did not respond to a request for comment. The White House didn’t return a request for comment and, as a matter of practice, doesn’t comment on Trump Organization business. It also received a licensing fee for at least two of these Venezuelan purchases, because they were the original sale of the property. POLITICO independently verified all relevant property records and court documents.Īlthough the Trump Organization only owned the New York properties - it licensed its brand to the Florida developments - the company was helped by all the condo sales. And he has since pressured Maduro and his associates with severe economic sanctions, while floating the possibility of military action.īut prior to Trump becoming president, his sprawling real estate ventures sold properties to numerous wealthy Venezuelans with government connections, according to a POLITICO examination of property records, court documents and Spanish language media reports compiled by the left-leaning advocacy group American Bridge 21st Century, which conducts opposition research on Republicans and is backed by major Democratic donors. He recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó in January as Venezuelan’s legitimate interim president, accusing Maduro of rigging his last electoral victory. In recent months, Trump has made toppling Maduro a signature piece of his foreign policy platform - a policy that particularly resonates in Florida, an all-important swing state with a sizeable anti-Maduro Venezuelan-American population. The Trump Organization’s deals with wealthy Venezuelans is the latest of these situations to come to the attention of Trump’s critics. Tom Carper, (D-Del.), who introduced a bill that would require the president to disclose and divest any potential financial conflicts of interest. ![]() “The American people deserve to know that the president of the United States is working in their best interest and that decisions made by the president - at home and abroad - are not affected by personal financial interests,” said Sen. In particular, Trump has faced questions about his business ties to the Russian elite, given the tens of millions of dollars they have invested in Trump properties.Įthics watchdogs and Democrats say the president’s refusal to release his tax returns or divest from his business empire only fuel suspicion around such foreign purchases. Trump said Friday that he will soon speak with Saudi Arabia's king about Khashoggi’s disappearance.Īnd some have led to concerns that Trump properties were being used to launder money - a charge the company denies. Now those ties are under scrutiny as the president faces calls for a tougher response to the kingdom’s government following the disappearance, and possible killing, of one of its biggest critics, journalist and activist Jamal Khashoggi. ![]() Donald Trump’s business ties to Saudi Arabia run long and deep, and he’s often boasted about his business ties with the kingdom. 10, 2018 photo, Trump World Tower, right, rises above the United Nations headquarters, center, in New York. ![]()
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