Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) has publicly criticized Donald Trump Jr. for accepting a substantial payment from a Russian oligarch with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin to cover expenses for his wedding after-party. Curtis described the transaction as "corruption" and stated it "stinks."
The event in question was the wedding of Donald Trump Jr. and socialite Bettina Anderson, which took place in the Bahamas in May. Among the attendees was Umar Kremlev, a figure reported to have met Trump Jr. a few years prior. Kremlev reportedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars towards costs associated with the celebration, including a private island rental and a fireworks display.
Curtis voiced his strong disapproval in a video released Friday, stating, "A Russian oligarch paid for a lavish wedding after-party for Donald Trump Jr., which, to me, it just stinks. It’s corruption. I don’t like it. I want to be careful because I don’t want to just talk about this passively." He indicated that further comments would follow, emphasizing the significance of the matter.
This criticism from the Utah Republican was part of a broader weekly review of personal "highs and lows," which also touched upon rising fuel costs and inflation under the Trump administration. Curtis highlighted the wedding gift controversy as a significant concern.
ProPublica was the first to report on Kremlev's involvement and attendance at the wedding, citing interviews and records. According to their report, Trump Jr. had described the wedding as an intimate gathering of "just really close friends." The presence of Kremlev and a larger Russian contingent reportedly caused surprise among other guests.
President Donald Trump has previously dismissed the controversy surrounding Kremlev's payment, stating he had "never heard of him" and calling the situation "no big deal."