It’s no huge surprise that Donald Trump’s inaugural committee is being investigated for possible financial abuses. That’s just another day at the office for the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan.
At issue is whether the $107 million collected from unlimited (for the first time) private and corporate donors was used to buy political favors in the shiny new Trump White House.
That liberal wild-eyed hippie rag, the Wall Street Journal, broke the story of the investigation which is focusing on if people from Middle Eastern countries used straw donors to disguise their donations.
Is anyone surprised? Kowtowing to Saudis is just another day on the golf course for Trump & Co. Just ask Jamal Khashoggi’s family.
If there was a red flag or, as Trump might tweet, a “smocking gun” here, it was the mind-bendingly large amount raised to reportedly fund a few inaugural balls and related fluff.
The balls aren’t particularly lavish affairs. They’re more on the order of a Southern debutante ball at the country club than a weeklong bacchanal at the Crown Prince’s palace.
I believe Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn served cheese straws and sausage balls at his inauguration and everyone was home by 9. Which pretty much defines my idea of the perfect party these days.
But how can you report raising $107 million — spending twice as much money on fewer than half as many events as did Obama and George W. Bush — and not expect it to get at least a raised eyebrow?
The only way you could spend that kind of money in such a short amount of time would be if every single toilet in the Greater D.C. area suddenly malfunctioned and you had to pay plumbers for “golden time.”
At the three balls, guests dined on red, white and blue cupcakes on paper plates and redeemed all four of their allotted drink tickets for one glass of champagne. Blech. Who catered this? Chuck E. Cheese?
If you’re thinking “but what about the parade? That was surely expensive” you should know that’s paid for by the taxpayers and isn’t included in the whopping $107 million. Also, it was much shorter than past parades, perhaps in part because, as you may remember, God was crying frozen tears that day and crowds were way down. Yes. They. Were.
The investigation is tasked with trying to find out where the money went and it’s even more vexing when you realize not only did Trump keep it to three balls, instead of the usual 8-10, but also because the “entertainment” was the Rockettes, a choir and a former teen singer. It was a toxic gig, to put it mildly. Apparently even Kid Rock had to wash his hair that night.
Even after dubious accounting with fake names and addresses has been unearthed, there’s still $42 million completely unaccounted for and, oh yes, Ivanka apparently oversaw using some of the money to reimburse Trump venues, a big ethics no-no.
Surprised yet? No, of course you aren’t.
Rivenbark is a best-selling author and humor columnist in Wilmington, N.C., who frequently writes about politics for Tribune News Service. She may be contacted at celiariven@aol.com.
TNS
