Donald Trump is distancing himself from a wedding weekend controversy involving his eldest son and Umar Kremlev, a sanctioned Russian oligarch. The president told the Daily Beast he had never heard of Kremlev and stressed that he did not attend the celebration held for Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson.

Donald Trump says he has never heard of Umar Kremlev, who funded his son’s post-wedding celebration

The issue centers on a Bahamas gathering that followed Trump Jr.’s May wedding to Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson. ProPublica reported that Kremlev, who leads the International Boxing Association, spent substantial dollars renting a private island for the celebration. He also reportedly covered a fireworks display.

Trump rejected any suggestion that Kremlev paid for his son’s wedding itself. In a statement emailed by the White House press office to the Daily Beast, he said Kremlev “didn’t pay” for the wedding and described the separate event as an “after-party” that was “not a big deal.” Trump also said he was absent from the celebration. The guest list added another wrinkle. Kremlev was in attendance alongside other Russians, leaving some guests “puzzled” at a gathering otherwise centered on family and close friends.

Questions over the relationship between Donald Trump Jr. and Kremlev remain, but neither Trump Jr., 48, nor Anderson, 39, has disputed reports that Kremlev helped finance the celebration. Trump Jr.’s spokesperson told ProPublica that the pair became friends through hunting. Kremlev’s press office gave a similar explanation, describing their connection as a “friendly relationship” that began “a couple of years ago.”

Kremlev skipped the smaller wedding ceremony itself, but he was among about 50 guests who later headed to the Bahamas for the celebration. Jared Kushner was also part of the group that made the trip.

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., is seeking records from Trump Jr. and cited potential national security and public corruption issues surrounding Kremlev’s reported spending. Garcia has asked Trump Jr. to retain communications between them, though the request does not currently carry legal force. If Democrats win back control of the House, they could once again have access to subpoena power.

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