Don Jr wedding funding probe call emerges at Patel hearing as Trump knows no funder

WASHINGTON, DC: The Federal Bureau of Investigation Chief Kash Patel appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee for an oversight hearing on Tuesday, Sept 15.

While Patel dodged questions on controversy that erupted over Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding funding by a Russian oligarch, Sen Richard Blumenthal asked him for a probe into matter.

An explosive report claimed a Russian oligarch with close ties to Vladimir Putin partially funded Donald Jr and Bettina Trump’s May nuptials.

Senate grills Kash Patel over Don Jr wedding funding, demands report

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn), who serves as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked Kash Patel what steps the FBI is taking to investigate reports that a Russian oligarch with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin paid for Donald Trump Jr.’s Caribbean island wedding in May.

President Trump’s eldest son Donald Junior and his new wife, Bettina Trump, acknowledged that a Russian Oligarch Umar Kremlev, paid for their wedding.

Blumenthal expressed concern that "there’s a potential for compromise in intelligence and also the possibility of improper influence."

On the steps into investigation question, Patel discredited public reporting as “generally inaccurate,” adding that the FBI “will look at whatever information comes our way and analyze it."

"First of all, you’re referring to something that happened yesterday in public reporting, and public reporting generally is inaccurate. And so, what the men and women of the FBI will do, as we do in every case, is we will look at whatever information comes our way and analyze it."

After Patel’s answer, Blumenthal said he wants the FBI director to report back to the committee how the agency will investigate the issue.

Trump and Melania say they know nothing about Kremlev

President Donald Trump, to NBC on Monday, Sept 14, said, "I have no idea who Umar is, never heard of him."

Similarly, a spokesperson for First Lady Melania Trump said today that "Mrs. Trump does not, and has never had, a relationship with Mr Kremlev."

During the Congress hearing, Patel touted “counterespionage arrests” by the FBI, including from Russia.

I’m not sure what public reporting you’re referring to," Patel said.

"The only thing I can tell you is that the counterespionage arrests by this FBI are up 53, including from Russia," he said. "We’ve arrested more espionage actors in these last 18 months than any 18-month period in the FBI history, and we’ll continue to investigate."

Bettina fires back at report 

ProPublica first reported that the Caribbean-set wedding was heavily funded by Kremlev, who has ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kremlev was also among the roughly 50 people who attended the private ceremony.

Bettina fired back against the report saying Kremlev “very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding.”

“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 continued.