Why did the Ukrainian oligarch donate $ 150,000 to the Trump fund: US special prosecutor wants to know

Special Prosecutor General Robert Muller, conducting an investigation into Russia's alleged interference in US elections in 2016, launched an investigation into the payment of thousands of dollars in 150, which in September 2015 of the Ukrainian oligarch Foundation Viktor Donald Trump transferred to the Foundation.

Victor Pinchuk (second from left). Photo: pinchukfund.org

Earlier this year Trump Organization upon request, investigators handed an array of business records with foreign nationals. Among them were donation documents in the amount of $ 150 000, which Ukrainian billionaire Victor Pinchuk made in September 2015 to the Donald Trump Jr. Foundation for video presentation future president of the United States at the Yalta European Strategy Conference 2015 year in Kiev. He writes about it New York Times.

Photo: Kyiv Post

Attorney Michael Cohen, who was searched by the FBI the day before, allegedly asked for such a donation, and it was the largest compared to the payments that Donald Trump himself transferred to the Foundation.

Pinchuk's payment "is curious in that it was made during a presidential campaign, is from a foreigner and appears to be an attempt to buy influence," said Marcus Owens, a former head of the Internal Revenue Division, which oversees corporate tax exemptions. He called the donation "an unusually large amount of money for such a short speech."

President Trump called the searches at his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, a “witch hunt,” and said that there was no evidence of collusion between his campaign headquarters and Russia.

Donald Trump also criticized the team of Special Prosecutor Robert Müllr, calling them "the most biased group of people." The President did not answer the question of journalists whether he plans to dismiss Muller, but noted that “what is happening is a shame, and we will see what happens next,” writes “Voice of America».

Payments Trump Organization from foreign nationals underscores just how varied Trump's sources of income have been over the years. And the designation of Pinchuk's donation—to the Trump Foundation, rather than a personal transfer to the president—raised new questions about the president's philanthropic practices.

The Trump Foundation was criticized during the presidential campaign in 2016 for trump using funds in a charitable foundation for personal use. For example, in 2007, the tycoon bought a portrait for $ 20 from the fund for $ 000.

Trump's speech was broadcast at the Yalta European Strategy conference, which promotes EU policy. After the annexation of Crimea by Russia, this conference takes place in Kiev and attracts well-known former Western leaders, such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former President Bill Clinton.

David Cameron and Victor Pinchuk. Photo: pinchukfund.org

Reaction in the Pinchuk Foundation

The Victor Pinchuk Foundation confirmed BBC News Ukrainethat transferred the Trump Foundation money for video presentation future president of the United States at the Yalta European Strategy Conference 2015 year in Kiev.

The Pinchuk Foundation explained that they turned to Trump as part of many years of work to establish links between the West and Ukraine.

“Donations from the Victor Pinchuk Foundation were made to support the work of the foundation and the Yalta European Strategy Conference. The only reason the Victor Pinchuk Foundation turned to Trump, as well as other world leaders, was to promote the strengthening and stability of ties between Ukraine and the West,” the Pinchuk Foundation noted.

They recalled that Donald Trump during his speech noted the need for US leadership in supporting Ukraine and its territorial integrity.

Victor Pinchuk. Photo: pinchukfund.org

“The donation was made ... at the special request of the Trump Foundation in September 2015, when there were several candidates for the Republican nomination for president and there was no certainty that Mr. Trump would be the Republican nominee in 2016,” the Pinchuk Foundation added.

Pinchuk ties with the Clinton family

Pinchuk is the son-in-law of the former president of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, who from 1994 to 2005 headed the government for a year and was criticized for corruption, nepotism and the killing of dissident journalists.

Pinchuk attracted more attention during the campaign for his connections with Hillary Clinton and her family foundation. Since 2006, he has donated more than $ 13 million to this organization.

As wrote earlier ForumDaily, he provided his private plane for the Clintons and went to Los Angeles for 2011 to celebrate Bill Clinton's 65 birthday.

Between September 2011 and November 2012, Douglas E. Schoen, a former political consultant to Bill Clinton, organized about a dozen meetings with representatives of the State Department and Pinchuk to discuss the ongoing political crisis in Ukraine.

In July, 2013, the Ministry of Commerce began investigating complaints that Ukraine (Pinchuk companies in particular) and 8 from other countries illegally collapsed steel pipe prices, selling them at a lower price.

A Pinchuk spokesman stated that the investigation had nothing to do with the State Department, and began after Hillary Clinton resigned as Secretary of State. He added that at the dinner party in Hillary's house at least 100 other people were present, and Hillary and Pinchuk briefly talked about democracy in Ukraine.

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