Ivanka Trump is probably freaking out right now.
A Washington, D.C. Superior Court judge just ruled that the lawsuit filed by D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine against ex-President Donald Trump’s 2017 inaugural committee and the Trump Organization can move forward.
The suit, which was filed January 2020, alleges that the Trump’s failing D.C. hotel illegally received over $1 million by charging the Presidential Inaugural Committee inflated prices for use of the its ballrooms and other event spaces.
Related: Ivanka freaks out on Twitter after being deposed by DC attorney general in ongoing investigation
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The fact that the case is moving forward is especially bad news for Ivanka since the suit alleges she was heavily involved in the discussions about the rentals despite being cautioned on at least two occasions that the hotel’s prices could lead to charges of self-dealing against her father.
Last December, Ivanka spent five hours giving sworn deposition to lawyers from the DA’s office about the whole thing, during which she may or may not have lied under oath when she was asked if had any “involvement in the process of planning [Donald Trump’s] inauguration” and she replied, “I really didn’t have an involvement.”
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) December 3, 2020
An email submitted as part of Racine’s lawsuit shows Rick Gates, then the deputy chairman of the Presidential Inauguration Committee, warning Ivanka that the hotel’s $3.6 million proposal for space rental and food and beverage service could lead to negative publicity for her dad.
Another email shows Gates sending Ivanka a schedule of inauguration events, noting that Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, former former senior advisor to Melania Trump, “is going to call you to discuss some additional ideas she has about some other events that we would like to see if you would be willing to do based on our meetings.” Ivanka replied by writing, “Great. I am looping in my assistant Suzie who can coordinate a time for us to connect.”
Related: Ivanka Trump is having yet another horrible day and OMG this one’s bad
The Trump Organization has vehemently denied the allegations in Racine’s suit, calling them “false, intentionally misleading and riddled with inaccuracies.” Meanwhile, Ivanka has accused Racine’s office of “harassment.”
“The rates charged by the hotel were completely in line with what anyone else would have been charged for an unprecedented event of this enormous magnitude and were reflective of the fact that hotel had just recently opened, possessed superior facilities and was centrally located on Pennsylvania Avenue,” a statement from Trump’s hotel group said in 2020.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore
GayEGO
I hope all of the Trump family cheating and breaking the laws are exposed, convicted, and jailed!
GrizzleyMichael
Who cares let’s us know when the whole incest clan is in prison rotting away
Cam
If the case can go forward that means the judge found enough evidence that it is a valid case. Not a good sign for the Trumps.
Fname Optional Lname
That was my first thought exactly! They would not be pressing on if there was not invaluable evidence that someone was caught red handed with their paws in the cookie jar! This is one time she will not be able to have her cake and throw it up too!
Dasher718
LOCK. HER. UP.
rawbeartop
LOCK HER UP! LOCK HER UP!
nm4047
apart from it being a wasting public money to pursue something that will never eventuate, it gives Trump more publicity than it deserves.
Matthewnow
What it gives is continued light to criminal activities. The Tumptards want us to forget their activities so they can pursue re-election. We must be vigilant.
Fahd
They should pursue the case vigorously as with any case of corruption involving government officials (or President’s “appointed” daughters). But I predict the Trumps will settle when things get too uncomfortable.
The country needs an alternative to the Trump Republican party and quickly if democracy is to be preserved. I’m not optimistic.
MISTERJETT
she and her whole incestuous family are a complete waste of skin.
woodroad34
When you send emails out basically saying “great, I’ll get my assistant to arrange a meeting (to help brainstorm about the event)” and telling the hotel to “give a fair market rate to the event”…what part of (being asked if she had) “involvement in the process of planning [Donald Trump’s] inauguration” did she not understand? She lied under oath and that’s what the judge realizes. She’s as much a great businesswoman as her father was.
BaltoSteve
With great sincerity I wish a profound amount of luck to the court on finding an impartial jury.
CityguyUSA
It’s obviously a conflict of interest and should have never been allowed.
Invader7
Agolf Twitterler and his brood of grifters ALL deserve long stretches in prison !!