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   XPost: alt.politics.trump   
   From: liamhardshell@bikerider.com   
      
   >Scotland Could Investigate Trump For Money Laundering   
   >   
   >   
   >Earlier this year, Scotland's parliament chose not to   
   >investigate Donald Trump over his purchase of Turnberry Golf   
   >Club. Now, Scotland's supreme civil court has chosen to   
   >review that decision, potentially paving the way for another   
   >Trump probe.   
   >   
   >On Wednesday (11 August), Scotland's Court of Session gave   
   >the green light to a judicial review of the Scottish   
   >ministers' decision not to investigate the Trumpdddd   
   >Organization.   
   >   
   >In February this year, the Scottish Green Party brought   
   >forward a motion calling on ministers to investigate Trump's   
   >$60 million purchase of Turnberry, one of two golf courses   
   >he owns in Scotland.   
   >   
   >Avaaz, a human rights group, argues that Scottish ministers   
   >have a "duty" to ask questions about where the money came   
   >from. On 20 May, it filed the petition with Scotland's Court   
   >of Session that has now been granted.   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   >"I grant permission for the petition to proceed without   
   >condition or restriction," ruled Lord Sandison. The judicial   
   >review is expected to start in Edinburgh later this year,   
   >with a decision due in six to eight months' time.   
   >   
   >If the ruling is then in Avaaz's favor then the Scottish   
   >government might be forced to take action against Trump.   
   >   
   >"Today’s win means Scottish ministers will now be challenged   
   >in court over their ongoing failure to seek an unexplained   
   >wealth order (UWO) to investigate Trump's suspicious   
   >Turnberry purchase," says Nick Flynn, a legal director at   
   >Avaaz.   
   >   
   >   
   >An unexplained wealth order would give authorities the power   
   >to question the Trump Organization about where the money   
   >used to purchase the golf course came from.   
   >   
   >Avaaz believes there is much "unexplained wealth" that needs   
   >to be investigated. In a 30-page document published in 2019,   
   >it outlines how the Trump Organization's purchase of   
   >Turnberry happened during a period which Trump's businesses   
   >suffered "serious financial difficulties and defaults."   
   >   
   >Despite these difficulties, it somehow managed to find $400   
   >million to buy five houses, eight golf courses, and a   
   >winery. At $60 million, excluding its ensuing refurbishment,   
   >Turnberry was the largest purchase of this spending spree.   
   >   
   >In a hearing by the Court of Session, Kay Sprigham,   
   >representing Avaaz, cited other probes of the Trump   
   >Organization, including a criminal investigation opened by   
   >the New York attorney general in May.   
   >   
   >Since the petition was filed, Allen Weisselberg, formally   
   >chief financial officer of Trump International Golf Club in   
   >Scotland, was charged by U.S. prosecutors on multiple counts   
   >of tax fraud and falsifying business records.   
   >   
   >   
   >Allen Weisselberg, Trump's former chief financial officer,   
   >arrives to attended a criminal hearing in ... [+] AFP via   
   >Getty Images   
   >   
   >If an unexplained wealth order is used to investigate Trump,   
   >it will be the first time the new power is used in Scotland.   
   >   
   >Unexplained wealth orders were created in 2018, quickly   
   >acquiring the nickname "McMafia" laws, after a popular BBC   
   >series about money laundering aired at the same time.   
   >   
   >The power has only been used by authorities investigating   
   >money laundering and illicit wealth on two occasions, and   
   >both times were in England.   
   >   
   >However, any such investigation will be dependent on the   
   >court of session's ruling, which will clarify how Scottish   
   >ministers should use the power.   
   >   
   >The Trump Organization did not respond to requests to   
   >comment on the Scottish court's decision, but Trump's son,   
   >Eric, has previously dismissed allegations of money   
   >laundering, and said those pursuing investigations against   
   >his father were a "national embarrassment." Eric Trump Opens   
   >Second Course At Turnberry   
   >   
   >Eric Trump has said any investigation by Scottish ministers   
   >against his father would be a "national ... [+] Getty Images   
   >   
   >Patrick Harvie, a Scottish Green Party MSP who brought the   
   >February motion to investigate Trump, said, “I’m glad we are   
   >a step forward in getting some clarity over why Trump’s   
   >business dealings in Scotland haven’t been investigated."   
   >   
   >“Scotland’s reputation is at stake, and it is entirely   
   >within the powers of ministers to defend it. An unexplained   
   >wealth order would be a clear signal that business in   
   >Scotland must be transparent and accountable, no matter the   
   >individual involved.”   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)