Why are former president Donald Trump’s ties to LIV Golf being investigated by the DOJ?
With reports suggesting President Trump’s affiliations with the Saudi-back LIV Golf tour were less than above-board, the fallout is certainly coming.
As we learn more about the former President’s role in the disturbing events that unfolded on January 6th, 2021, new evidence has come to light which suggests that he had some less than appropriate dealings with the Saudi Arabian backers of the new and divisive LIV Golf tour.
Department of Justice investigates President Trump’s LIV ties
According to a new report from the New York Times, Former President Donald Trump’s dealings with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour currently being investigated by the Department of Justice of the United States. It is understood that the probe is part of a wider inquiry into Trump’s handling of classified documents.
To that end, the Justice Department is understood to have issued a number of new subpoenas as it continues to investigate whether classified documents were moved at Trump’s Florida residence last year in response to inquiries. The current aim is to determine exactly how the documents in question were stored, who was given access to them, and what security measures were taken to secure them. In accordance with the investigation, several staff members of Trump’s Mar-A-Lago residence have been subpoenaed along with a wide array of Trump-affiliated organizations.
Where does LIV Golf come into this?
As mentioned above, the LIV Golf reference is only a part of the wider investigation. As such, one of the subpoenas concerns documents related to Trump’s connection to LIV Golf, the controversial golf tour which is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. At this time, it remains unclear as to exactly what LIV Golf’s role in the investigation of classified document handling is, but the implication is that the Justice Department is reviewing a broad range of Trump’s post-presidential business operations.
This of course brings us to the two Trump-owned courses which hosted LIV Golf events during the Tour’s inaugural season in 2022: Trump National Bedminster in New Jersey and Trump National Doral in Florida. To be clear, both courses are set to host events this season as well as another course in the former president’s portfolio, the Trump National Washington, located just outside of Washington D.C. For the purpose of context, it should be noted that families of 9/11 victims were incensed when reports confirmed that Trump’s Bedminster course - located a short distance from New York City - would host one of LIV Golf’s tournaments. The Saudi ties of the tour have long been criticized due to allegations of about Saudi Arabia’s ties to the terrorists who were held responsible for attacking and destroying the World Trade Center towers.
For his part, the former President alluded to his long-term friendship as the basis for a continued relationship with the Kingdom. “I’ve known these people for a long time in Saudi Arabia, they’e been friends of mine for a long time,” he said last year. “They’ve invested in many American companies, they own big percentages of many, many American companies, and frankly what they’re doing for golf is so great.”
The PGA doesn’t want anything to do with Donald Trump
It’s interesting to note the manner in which Trump’s various controversies, including that which followed his election defeat has affected his businesses going forward. Indeed, Trump’s affiliation with LIV Golf only materialized after the more traditional golf organizations distanced themselves from him. You may recall R&A, European golf’s governing body which removed Turnberry - A Trump owned course - from consideration for future Opens after the former president’s provocative commentary on immigration during the 2016 presidential campaign. The PGA Tour also took a similar stance during his time in office, essentially blacklisting all of his courses. Most recently, we saw this with Bedminster and the 2022 PGA Championship which it was set to host.