The US has been investigating a 2016 Egyptian $10m gift to former President Donald Trump. The investigation looked into whether Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, the Egyptian ruler, attempted to provide this money during Trump’s presidential campaign. A spokesperson for Trump denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the report as a conspiracy by anti-Trump individuals.
The investigation revealed that an organization linked to Egyptian intelligence withdrew $10m from a Cairo bank just before Trump’s inauguration in 2017. US officials discovered this withdrawal in 2019 and were concerned that it may have violated laws on foreign donations.
The report, published by the Washington Post, also mentioned that investigators probed if this money influenced Trump’s decision to inject $10m of his own funds into his campaign. The investigation ultimately concluded without criminal charges being filed.
This news comes amidst the bribery conviction of Robert Menendez, a Democratic senator who received gifts from Egyptian sources. Trump has previously praised Sisi despite concerns about the Egyptian leader’s authoritarian rule.
The report has sparked controversies and speculations, with Trump’s current spokesperson labeling it as “fake news.” The justice department, US attorney in Washington DC, and the FBI declined to comment. Despite criticism, the prosecutor who closed the case defended his decision.
The Egyptian government and an anonymous US government source refused to answer questions about the investigation. The source emphasized the importance of the justice department following evidence to determine if a crime occurred.
