US Senator John Curtis, a Republican from Utah, has criticised Donald Trump Jr. for accepting financial support from a Russian businessman with alleged ties to the Kremlin to fund a lavish wedding after party in the Bahamas.
Curtis described the arrangement as “corruption” and said he would speak further about the issue in the coming days.
“A Russian oligarch paid for a lavish wedding after-party for Donald Trump Jr. which to me just thinks. It’s corruption, I don’t like it,” Curtis said in a video posted on social media.
The comments came after ProPublica reported that Umar Kremlev, president of the International Boxing Association, paid to rent one of two private islands where Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina Trump, held a three day celebration earlier this year. Kremlev also reportedly covered the cost of fireworks and other expenses.
Bettina Trump confirmed that Kremlev had hosted two nights of celebrations, while stressing that the event took place after the couple’s private wedding ceremony, which was attended only by family.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that his son had repaid Kremlev for the expenses and dismissed questions about whether accepting the funding was appropriate.
“Well, it’s totally allowed, and a lot of people have parties and all, but it’s totally allowed,” Trump said, adding that he understood his son had paid Kremlev back.
Another Republican senator, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, previously criticised the arrangement, calling it “beyond bad”.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, declined to comment directly, saying he needed more information about the reported arrangement.
