Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump $250K Bahamas wedding gift from Russian oligarch has sparked backlash from Republicans.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) spoke out against Don Trump Jr. during an interview on "Face the Nation" Sunday morning.
"Anytime someone gives a $250,000 gift, and they have ties to the Kremlin, that's wrong," Cassidy said. "With that proximity to power, being the president's son, you've got to give faith to the American people that Washington is not a swamp."
Cassidy was responding to the bombshell ProPublica report on Trump Jr.'s lavish, three-day wedding party on a pair of exclusive private islands, which appears to have been "heavily funded" by Umar Kremlev, the International Boxing Association chief with close ties to President Vladimir Putin.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have since launched an investigation and even Trump has tried to backtrack, claiming his son paid the oligarch back.
On Sunday, Cassidy expressed relief on the latter point — but suggested he wasn't 100 percent convinced it was true.
"It would be nice to have that kind of verified," said Cassidy. "And no, it shouldn't have been done in the first place. Even though in your mind it might be a gift the appearance of it is really bad!"
The Republican senator addressed Trump Jr. directly as he explained his logic.
Other Republican lawmakers who have heaped scorn on Trump Jr. include Sen. John Curtis (R-UT), who in a video address to his constituents, said he was outraged.
"It just stinks," Curtis said. "It's corruption, I don't like it.... this is a big deal."
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) agreed, telling Washington Sun reporter Igor Bobic he felt the gift was "beyond bad."
