Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch with ties to Vladimir Putin, partially funded Donald Trump Jr's lavish Bahamas wedding this spring, covering expenses like renting a private island and a fireworks display, according to a ProPublica investigation.
Kremlyov, who is under Ukrainian sanctions because of close ties to the Kremlin, pitched in about $100,000 per night for the island rental and $70,000 for fireworks.
Although the couple didn't include him in photos of the event, they did include other notable attendees like Jared Kushner, Don Jr's brother-in-law and a man who regularly tries to negotiate peace in the Middle East.
Trump Jr's bride Bettina, a Palm Beach socialite and his second wife, addressed the report in a statement, writing, "Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding." She called it "an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful.
"It's unfortunate that something so personal and happy can be recast as something political or sinister simply because of who someone is or where they come from," she added. "Friendship doesn't require a political motive. Generosity doesn't automatically come with an agenda. And sometimes a wedding gift is simply a wedding gift."
The lavish "gift" raised concerns about potential Russian influence on American political figures amid strained U.S.-Russia relations and ongoing geopolitical tensions.
“If I’m paying for your wedding, at some point, you’re going to owe me something,” Frank Montoya Jr., a retired career FBI official, told ProPublica. “This should be unthinkable for the son of the president. End of story.”
It also raised questions about why the junior Trumps would accept, considering Don Jr's wealth has skyrocketed to $300 million thanks to the family's presidential-office-backed crypto venture.
So, who is Umar Kremlev? Newsweek reports that he's 43 years old and was born Umar Lutfulloyev, changing his name in 2010. In his 20s, he racked up convictions for extortion and battery, and later joined the Kremlin-friendly Night Wolves motorcycle club, "where he developed a relationship with Alexei Rubezhnoi, who now heads Russian President Vladimir Putin's presidential security service."
As Daily Beast reported, "Kremlev was said to have been part of a group of Russians in attendance at the wedding reception whose presence “puzzled” other guests. This included businessman Alexander Lagutin and Elena Sobol, dubbed Kremlev’s “right-hand man” at the IBA.
“What are they doing here?” one person recalled thinking, according to ProPublica, about the 'conspicuous' Russian guests.
