Eric Trump throws tantrum over Scottish parliament vote on opening probe into Trump golf resort
With the Scottish Parliament set to vote on whether to launch an investigation of the Trump Organization’s opaque funding for its golf resorts in that country, Donald Trump’s second son Eric lashed out at the proposed inquiry in an indignant response to the local politicians spearheading the motion.
Eric Trump attacked Patrick Harvie — the leader of the Scottish Green Party and the primary instigator of the move to begin a formal probe of how the cash-strapped family real-estate business found the money to buy the two golf resorts that it owns and operates in Scotland — in a statement that accused Harvie of being a “national embarrassment” and said that he and his colleagues were merely supporting the investigation as a way of “advancing their personal agendas.”
“Patrick Harvie is nothing more than a national embarrassment with his pathetic antics that only serve himself and his political agenda,” Eric Trump said yesterday on the ve of the parliamentary vote. “If Harvie and the rest of the Scottish government continue to treat overseas investors like this, it will deter future investors from conducting business in Scotland, ultimately crushing their economy, tourism and hospitality industries,” the middle Trump son warned.
“At a critical time when politicians should be focused on saving lives and reopening businesses in Scotland, they are focused on advancing their personal agendas,” he added.
“As a company, The Trump Organization has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into the Scottish economy, rescued Turnberry, a Scottish national treasure on the brink of collapse and rebuilt it into one of the finest resorts anywhere in the world. In both Aberdeen and Turnberry, the Trump Organization has created thousands of jobs and has made an overwhelming contribution to the leisure and tourism industry,” he continued.
As for Mr. Harvie, whose Green Party holds a minority of just five seats in the country’s legislative body, he is undeterred in his quest for financial transparency as a way to determine whether any of the money used by the Trump Organization came from illicit funds laundered through the company.
“The Scottish government has tried to avoid the question of investigating Donald Trump’s wealth for far too long,” Harvie told the local newspaper The Scotsman. “There are serious concerns about how he financed the cash purchases of his Scottish golf courses, but no investigation has ever taken place. That’s why I’m bringing this vote to parliament. The government must seek an unexplained wealth order to shine a light on Trump’s shadowy dealings.”
“Our tourism offer is important. It’s an important part of Scotland’s economy and our society, and it should not be tarnished by association with this white supremacist, extremist, dangerous liar and bully,” Harvie told CBS News in another interview.
With a debate scheduled for today, the outcome of the subsequent vote will soon be known, but the results will not in fact be binding on the government.
“First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has previously said that any investigation is the responsibility of Police Scotland and the Crown Office. More recently, in January Sturgeon said it was a matter for Scotland’s Lord Advocate,” a report from an earlier Parliamentary debate stated. “Wednesday’s debate will be followed by a vote. While it is not binding, it would put significant pressure on Sturgeon to seek an UWO [Unexplained Wealth Order].”
Stay tuned to see how this all winds up playing out.
If the Parliamentary vote succeeds and First Minister Sturgeon is convinced to proceed with the inquiry, it’s conceivable that Donald Trump and his family business will face the consequences of their action overseas before an American court has the opportunity to judge the merits of the many accusations against them.
Perhaps it’s time for New York State Attorney General Letitia James and the prosecutors at the federal SDNY to work a bit more quickly so they have first shot at what looks like will become a crowded prosecutorial calendar for the Trumps.
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Original reporting by Ewan Murray at The Irish Times, by Matthew Chapman at RawStory, and by Haley Ott at CBS News.
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