A NEW TURN OF EVENTS
COMPILATION AND COMMENTARY
BY LUCY WARNER
FEBRUARY 4, 2019 AT 10:58 PM

MORE SUBPOENAS HAVE BEEN ISSUED, AND CNN STATED THAT SUBMITTING THE DOCUMENTS WILL BE MANDATORY, WITH A POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCE FOR NON-COMPLIANCE. THERE MAY EVEN BE A SUPREME COURT DECISION IN THE FUTURE HERE, SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SO FEW ACTUAL LEGAL PROCEDURES THAT ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE CONSTITUTIONAL AND, SOMETHING WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME, PERSONALLY, "EFFECTIVE." WE NEED TO LEARN LESSONS FROM WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH THESE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND WRITE IT INTO THE LAW, PERHAPS INCLUDING THE CONSTITUTION. I AM RELIEVED TO FIND THIS MOVE, AND I HOPE IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE (TRUE) STATE OF OUR UNION.

THIS MAY BE VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE, THOUGH IT’S JUST A BEGINNING, IT IS FISHING IN A GOOD PART OF THE RIVER WHERE THE BASS ARE LIKELY TO BE BITING. THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW HIS INAUGURAL COMMITTEE COULD HAVE RECEIVED SUCH A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A FAIRLY SIMPLE EVENT. AS WE USED TO SAY, BACK WHEN PEOPLE REALLY READ “NEWSPAPERS,” IT’S ALSO “HOT OFF THE PRESS.”

https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/04/politics/sdny-subpoena-trump-inauguration-committee/index.html
Federal prosecutors subpoena Trump inaugural committee, source says
By Erin Burnett, Erica Orden, Gloria Borger and Caroline Kelly, CNN
Updated 10:08 PM ET, Mon February 4, 2019

(CNN)Federal prosecutors in New York on Monday subpoenaed President Donald Trump's inaugural committee for documents related to donors, vendors and finances, according to a copy of the subpoena reviewed by CNN, a step that appears to escalate that office's ongoing investigation of the committee's activity.

The wide-ranging subpoena from the Manhattan US attorney's office requires the committee to turn over documents related to virtually every donor or donation, attendee at a committee event, piece of paperwork related to the legal requirements attached to donations and even "the possibility of" donations made by foreign nationals.

It discloses that prosecutors are investigating a litany of potential crimes: conspiracy against the US, false statements, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, inaugural committee disclosure violations, and violations of laws prohibiting contributions by foreign nations and contributions in the name of another person, also known as straw donors.

It demands documents related to any "benefits" offered to donors, including "tickets, photo opportunities, and/or small group receptions." It also requires the committee to turn over information about donations made directly to vendors, as well as communications discussing that possibility.

Federal prosecutors' investigation into the committee involves possible financial abuses related to the more than $100 million in donations raised for Trump's inauguration, CNN has reported. The prosecutor listed on the subpoena, Tom McKay, is a member of the office's public-corruption unit and was one of the lead prosecutors on the office's case against Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen.

The broad demand for documents suggests that Trump and entities connected to him may face continued scrutiny by federal prosecutors, particularly in New York, even if special counsel Robert Mueller's probe winds down. ABC News first reported that the US attorney's office was prepared to issue a subpoena to the committee.

A spokesperson for the committee said Monday: "We have just received a subpoena for documents. While we are still reviewing the subpoena, it is our intention to cooperate with the inquiry."

A spokesperson for the Manhattan US attorney's office declined to comment.

Tom Barrack, the inaugural committee's chairman, also declined to comment. Barrack isn't named in the subpoena.

The investigation into the committee -- which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal in December -- involves possible financial abuses related to the more than $100 million in donations raised for Trump's inauguration, sources familiar with the matter told CNN at the time.

One source familiar with the matter told CNN in December that the investigation was in its early stages, and that investigators were generally focused on whether any inauguration money had been misspent.

The subpoena lists only two specific names: Imaad Zuberi and his investment firm, Avenue Ventures LLC. The subpoena asks for documents related to Zuberi but doesn't offer any clues as to why his donations may be of interest. Avenue Ventures donated $900,000 to the inaugural fund, Federal Election Commission records show.

Zuberi did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.

CNN's Fredreka Schouten, Kara Scannell and Devan Cole contributed to this report.