Stupid above has obviously not been listening or watching his hero, you know the one that does Putin’s bidding and says he will be a dictator in reality for more than one day. How wilfully deaf, dumb and blind can you get?
Conservatives are the ones who want to dictate total control over private relationships (dictate who you can or can’t marry or even what behavior is allowed behind closed doors), private medical choices (reproductive choices such as abortion, IVF or contraception, medical or recreational marijuana, end of life choices, stem cell therapies, gender-identity care), tell us what books we or our children can have access to, or try to force PRIVATE religion into PUBLIC policy and religious rituals into public meetings or subsidize it with special tax advantages (socialized religion).
Very rarely, reporting happens like it does in the movies – with an out-of-the-blue email offering important, secret information.
That is how Guardian reporter Hugo Lowell was able to reveal on Wednesday that Donald Trump’s social media company was kept afloat by $8m in loans from a trust managed by a Russian-American businessman under criminal investigation.
Trump Media, which includes the Truth Social platform, went public last week, with the former president’s stake boosting his net worth by approximately $3.7bn.
Hugo began chasing this story last year, revealing the existence of the emergency $8m loans that helped Trump Media stave off insolvency in 2022. And while Hugo was able to establish the source of the loans as an entity called ES Family Trust, the identity of those behind the trust was a mystery – until now.
Hugo tells me: “Fast forward almost a year from my initial reporting, and one evening I get an email with documents connected to a small Caribbean-registered bank called Paxum, best-known for financing the porn industry. The documents cast a light on how ES Family Trust operated.”
Those documents turned out to be a huge cache of files revealing a man behind the trust to be Anton Postolnikov, a co-owner of Paxum bank and nephew of Aleksandr Smirnov, a Putin ally and former first deputy justice minister of Russia.
“For the longest time, we had no idea about the origin of this money and how it was all connected,” says Hugo. “And suddenly we had the trust’s creation papers. It was an aha moment for us.”
Postolnikov appears to have used the trust to loan money to Trump Media because Paxum lacks a US banking license, barring it from furnishing the loan directly. At the time, in late 2021, the former president’s media company was desperate for cash while it waited for US regulators to approve the merger that would facilitate its stock market debut.
Trump Media finally went public last week – but though it received regulatory clearance, the deal has been mired in a criminal investigation for allegations of insider trading and money laundering. “This is now a joint FBI-Department of Homeland Security investigation that encompasses multiple FBI field officers, the El Dorado task force that looks at money laundering in Miami, and multiple US attorneys’ offices,” says Hugo. “It’s just turned into this colossal behemoth of an investigation.”
There is also no indication that Trump or Trump Media had any idea about the nature of the loans beyond that they were opaque, nor has the company or its executives been accused of wrongdoing. A spokesperson for Trump Media did not respond to a request for comment.
One person of interest in the investigation? Postolnikov. He has been listed on search warrant affidavits, but has not been charged with a crime.
“What happens next to Postolnikov is always going to be of interest to us,” says Hugo, “but it’s very difficult to predict. I think what is eye-opening to us is just how large the investigation has become. And the money that Donald Trump stands to gain from this is just so significant.”
You can read Hugo Lowell’s full, fascinating report here: Exclusive: Trump Media saved in 2022 by Russian-American under criminal investigation.
Thanks for supporting us and helping fund vital public-interest investigations like this.
No matter who’s elected, democracy will continue. There are numerous checks and balances to keep it going, and all this is just a scare tactic on both sides. People need to get some sanity about this.
Flashaaway about 1 month ago
Stupid above has obviously not been listening or watching his hero, you know the one that does Putin’s bidding and says he will be a dictator in reality for more than one day. How wilfully deaf, dumb and blind can you get?
braindead Premium Member about 1 month ago
The Disciples believe this is a good thing.
eclairewl Premium Member about 1 month ago
Interesting article in the Guardian yesterday.
Exclusive: Trump Media saved in 2022 by Russian-American under criminal investigation
fusilier about 1 month ago
DNFTT
fusilier
James 2:24
Valiant1943 Premium Member about 1 month ago
It won’t be long Trump will require help getting dressed. Look for another demigod.
Bill LaRocque Premium Member about 1 month ago
Simply, BRAVO!
rs0204 Premium Member about 1 month ago
Donald Trump is going to lose the 2024 election. Our country will turn out in record numbers, and we will get it right.
Diane Lee Premium Member about 1 month ago
Conservatives are the ones who want to dictate total control over private relationships (dictate who you can or can’t marry or even what behavior is allowed behind closed doors), private medical choices (reproductive choices such as abortion, IVF or contraception, medical or recreational marijuana, end of life choices, stem cell therapies, gender-identity care), tell us what books we or our children can have access to, or try to force PRIVATE religion into PUBLIC policy and religious rituals into public meetings or subsidize it with special tax advantages (socialized religion).
ncorgbl about 1 month ago
The dictator wannabe tRump should be jailed, not elected.
Radish the wordsmith about 1 month ago
Greedy republicans want to steal the USA.
Walter Kocker Premium Member about 1 month ago
Hi everyone,
Very rarely, reporting happens like it does in the movies – with an out-of-the-blue email offering important, secret information.
That is how Guardian reporter Hugo Lowell was able to reveal on Wednesday that Donald Trump’s social media company was kept afloat by $8m in loans from a trust managed by a Russian-American businessman under criminal investigation.
Trump Media, which includes the Truth Social platform, went public last week, with the former president’s stake boosting his net worth by approximately $3.7bn.
Hugo began chasing this story last year, revealing the existence of the emergency $8m loans that helped Trump Media stave off insolvency in 2022. And while Hugo was able to establish the source of the loans as an entity called ES Family Trust, the identity of those behind the trust was a mystery – until now.
Hugo tells me: “Fast forward almost a year from my initial reporting, and one evening I get an email with documents connected to a small Caribbean-registered bank called Paxum, best-known for financing the porn industry. The documents cast a light on how ES Family Trust operated.”
Those documents turned out to be a huge cache of files revealing a man behind the trust to be Anton Postolnikov, a co-owner of Paxum bank and nephew of Aleksandr Smirnov, a Putin ally and former first deputy justice minister of Russia.
“For the longest time, we had no idea about the origin of this money and how it was all connected,” says Hugo. “And suddenly we had the trust’s creation papers. It was an aha moment for us.”
Postolnikov appears to have used the trust to loan money to Trump Media because Paxum lacks a US banking license, barring it from furnishing the loan directly. At the time, in late 2021, the former president’s media company was desperate for cash while it waited for US regulators to approve the merger that would facilitate its stock market debut.
To Be Continued
Walter Kocker Premium Member about 1 month ago
CONTINUED
Trump Media finally went public last week – but though it received regulatory clearance, the deal has been mired in a criminal investigation for allegations of insider trading and money laundering. “This is now a joint FBI-Department of Homeland Security investigation that encompasses multiple FBI field officers, the El Dorado task force that looks at money laundering in Miami, and multiple US attorneys’ offices,” says Hugo. “It’s just turned into this colossal behemoth of an investigation.”
There is also no indication that Trump or Trump Media had any idea about the nature of the loans beyond that they were opaque, nor has the company or its executives been accused of wrongdoing. A spokesperson for Trump Media did not respond to a request for comment.
One person of interest in the investigation? Postolnikov. He has been listed on search warrant affidavits, but has not been charged with a crime.
“What happens next to Postolnikov is always going to be of interest to us,” says Hugo, “but it’s very difficult to predict. I think what is eye-opening to us is just how large the investigation has become. And the money that Donald Trump stands to gain from this is just so significant.”
You can read Hugo Lowell’s full, fascinating report here: Exclusive: Trump Media saved in 2022 by Russian-American under criminal investigation.
Thanks for supporting us and helping fund vital public-interest investigations like this.
Best,
Georgia
Georgia Warren
Interim membership editor
Guardian US
Lola85 Premium Member about 1 month ago
No matter who’s elected, democracy will continue. There are numerous checks and balances to keep it going, and all this is just a scare tactic on both sides. People need to get some sanity about this.
calliarcale about 1 month ago
Nice use of the diamond ring effect!