Martyn McLaughlin
@MartynMcL
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Journalist. Personal account. Views are my own.
Scotland
Joined March 2010
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EXCL: One of Scotland’s largest land estates, spanning nearly 30,000 acres of wilderness across swathes of the southern Highlands, has been bought over by the son of a fugitive billionaire and convicted money launderer. Me for
@TheScotsman
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Thread: there's been interesting discussion in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon about the use of Unexplained Wealth Orders to investigate Donald Trump's deals to acquire his Scottish properties and ascertain the sources of the financing 1/
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EXCL: The Scottish Parliament will this week stage a debate - and vote - on whether ministers should pursue an Unexplained Wealth Order to investigate the source of financing for Donald Trump’s Scottish resorts. My
@TheScotsman
story.
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New story about Trump's finances in Scotland coming soon ...
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My daughter's teachers set themselves a lockdown challenge of making a fine dining version of beans and toast, with the kids voting on the winners.
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.
@patrickharvie
said there is a need to "protect Scotland's good name from association with the toxic Trump brand" and highlighted "serious and long-standing concerns about Trump's business activities," both in Scotland and further afield 2/
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EXCL: Scotland's top law officer has been urged to investigate the source of the funds underpinning Donald Trump’s flagship Scottish resort after the former US president was convicted in New York on all 34 counts of falsifying business records.
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Patrick Harvie's response to Eric Trump's statement tonight: "As entertaining as Eric Trump’s tantrum is, he doesn’t say where his dad got the money to buy his Scottish golf courses, which is exactly why I’m calling on the Scottish Government to seek an Unexplained Wealth Order.”
EXCL: On the eve of a parliamentary vote on whether ministers should go to court to investigate the finances behind Donald Trump's resorts, the Trump Org has accused politicians of pursuing "personal agendas" and neglecting their response to the pandemic.
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NEW: Before he left office, Trump filed his final financial disclosures with
@OfficeGovEthics
. I’ve had a read through them. The income he is claiming in respect of his Scottish resorts is entirely divorced from the reality set out in black in white in his UK accounts. Thread 👇
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He added: "Now that Trump is set to lose immunity from prosecution in the US, he may finally be held to account there. Isn't it time that he's also held to account here? Isn't it time for answers from the Trump Organisation and for the Scottish Government to go to court?" 7/
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Whenever Trump visits his Turnberry resort, he flies in via Glasgow Prestwick, an airport he's had numerous business dealings with over the years.
Now, there's now a petition in Scotland to rename the airport after Joe Biden.
Story by
@RosalindErskine
:
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Those concerns, he said, include evidence to Congress citing patterns of buying and selling thought suggestive of money laundering, and which drew particular attention to the golf courses in Scotland and Ireland. 3/
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He added: "The Trump Organisation has been accused of repeatedly reporting fraudulent financial details to the US Office of Government Ethics, while reporting a different set of figures to the UK regulators in respect of the Trump golf courses here in Scotland." 5/
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Eric Trump adds that "in both Aberdeen and Turnberry," the Trump Org "has created thousands of jobs" & made an "overwhelming contribution" to the tourism industry.
Records show Trump's Scottish firms employ a total of 625 staff and have yet to pay a penny in corporation tax.
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"The cause for concern is still growing," Mr Harvie told the parliament. "It's now reported that the Manhattan District Attorney's office is investigating the Trump Organisation's inflation of assets, and potential bank and insurance fraud." 4/
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Nearly 1,200 days ago, I submitted the first in a series of freedom of information requests about US Secret Service spending at Donald Trump's Scottish resorts. This week, as a surprise early Christmas present, I received a load of documents. Full story coming this evening.
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Here's my original story from February on the growing calls for the Scottish Govt to pursue an Unexplained Wealth Order to determine the source of the Trump Organisation's financing in Scotland:
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If I told you I've had a *very* interesting day out, it'd be something of an enormous understatement. Watch this space.
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I’ve obtained nearly 1,300 pages of documents prepared by attorneys working for the Trump Org as part of a legal dispute that’s never been made public - until now. It could have major repercussions for
@realDonaldTrump
’s biz interests in Europe. Excl story coming this evening
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Rod Stewart's model railway inspired by postwar Manhattan - a design which took him 20+ years to build, and spans 1,500 square feet - looks the absolute shit.
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Turning to the issue of UWOs - he stressed that the Scottish Government is able to go to court and ask for an order so that it can "start getting answers," but said that so far, the government has refused to either confirm or deny that an investigation is underway. 6/
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She added: "I think everybody is prob well aware of my views about the soon to be former president, and my views are probably no different to ... many people across Scotland. The idea that I'd somehow try to protect him from due accountability I don't think holds much water." 9/
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The judicial review hearing into the use of an Unexplained Wealth Order against former US president Donald Trump's Turnberry resort gets underway at the Court of Session tomorrow. I'll be reporting on it, so stay tuned.
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This is not the only Scotland-related Trump story to keep an eye on. I've spent weeks working on a new 2,000 word investigation into Trump's businesses here. It involves luxury travel, Russians, and lots of $$$. Full story online in a few hours and in tomorrow's
@TheScotsman
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Scottish Greens UWO statement: "We can't continue to turn a blind eye to red flags that surround [Trump's] biz activities in Scotland, sending a signal to not just Trump himself but those who may be lured by our relaxed approach towards investigating possible financial crimes"
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EXCL Donald Trump’s flagship international resort claimed up to half a million pounds in UK taxpayers’ money via a Covid-19 job fund - despite making scores of redundancies during the pandemic. Union officials are demanding a govt investigation. Thread 👇
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Replying, First Minister
@NicolaSturgeon
said the decision on whether to pursue a UWO against Trump is one for prosecutors, not politicians - specifically, the Crown Office, which she said operated in a "right and proper" independent capacity from government ministers. 8/
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For what it's worth, my understanding of the UWO process is that it's the Scottish Government that can decide to go to court, under section 396A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The legislation doesn't seem to leave much room for ambiguity: ends/
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NEW: Scottish ministers have been urged to seek an Unexplained Wealth Order targeting
@realDonaldTrump
's Scottish resorts amid claims there are "reasonable grounds for suspecting that he, or people he is connected with, have been involved in serious crime"
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Four years ago this weekend, The Herald's television critic wrote this preview of Trump's live inauguration ceremony.
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For nine hours a day, six days a week, until the final moments of VE Day, she used her mathematical prowess to thwart the Nazis. Last punt for my story on Ann Mitchell, the WW2 codebreaker who has died aged 97, shortly after testing positive for Covid-19.
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Journalism is about holding power to account, not fawning over its trappings.
I’ve been on a few fancy planes in my time but nothing quite like this one.
My world exclusive TV interview with President
@realDonaldTrump
aboard Air Force One airs Monday on
@GMB
& then an ITV special.
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EXCL: Woody Johnson, the billionaire US ambassador to the UK, spent more than £1,000 on golf and dinner in a single day during a three-night stay at Donald Trump’s Scottish resort - and American taxpayers picked up the bill. My
@TheScotsman
story:
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Calls grow to prevent 'dangerous criminal' Donald Trump from entering Scotland, with at least four MSPs from.across three parties supporting an outright ban.
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You are a director of three of your father's companies here in the UK. Two have never turned a profit and are reliant on £150m in loans. The other is being liquidated. Nepotism may be many things, but it is no guarantee of competence.
My father gave me an opportunity to work my way up in his company. Joe gave his son China.
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EXCL: Donald Trump's Turnberry hotel was paid nearly £25,000 by the Secret Service for business trips by Eric Trump & his wife, incl a private golf excursion with 30 'international guests'. The resort has received circa £300,000 from US taxpayers. Thread👇🏻
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A *very* interesting development in Trump world. As of today, Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organisation, who has been charged with multiple counts of tax fraud in New York, is no longer a director of Trump's inaugural company in Scotland.
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EXCL: One of Scotland's most senior legal figures has said the Scottish Government can go to court to apply for an Unexplained Wealth Order to investigate how Donald Trump financed the £35m cash deal to acquire his flagship international golf resort.
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UPDATED: The resort
@realDonaldTrump
promised would host the "world's greatest" golf course lost £1m+ in '18, its 7th consecutive year of losses. Trump has loaned it £40.6m. Its staff count fell to 77 (Trump promised to employ 6,000). My
@TheScotsman
excl:
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EXCL: On the eve of a parliamentary vote on whether ministers should go to court to investigate the finances behind Donald Trump's resorts, the Trump Org has accused politicians of pursuing "personal agendas" and neglecting their response to the pandemic.
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EXC: The Trump Org has lost its exclusive rights to one of its prized assets - the Trump name - for real estate development & golf accessories after an EU ruling. Filings by its attorneys show a sharp fall in golf biz at POTUS's Turnberry resort. Thread👇
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A growing number of politicians have called for Donald Trump to be banned from entering Scotland, describing him as a "dangerous criminal" who should face prosecution. My full story is in tomorrow's
@scotonsunday
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Eric Trump is in Scotland today to talk up the success of the Trump Organisation's golf resorts here. I was due to interview him, but it's been cancelled. Since their inception, Trump's Scottish firms have run up losses of £41.45m, and remain reliant on £107m in loans.
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NEW: There are "reasonable questions" around the financing of former US president Donald Trump's Scottish resorts, with money being “funnelled in from outside the UK from apparently unlimited funds,” the Court of Session has heard. Me for
@TheScotsman
:
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EXCL The US Defence Dept has postponed a lucrative new refuelling deal for military aircraft at Prestwick Airport amid a Congressional investigation into spending at the heavily-indebted hub &
@realdonaldtrump
’s Turnberry resort. My
@TheScotsman
latest:
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NEW: While the House debates
@realDonaldTrump
's impeachment, new filings with authorities in the UK show the Trump Organisation is winding up two of its Scotland-based companies, with both being placed in voluntary liquidation. Thread 👇
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EXC Trump Turnberry is *only* hotel named in literature distributed by Prestwick Airport at private meetings with US Air Force crews planning layovers, raising more Qs over their ties amid live Congressional investigation. My
@TheScotsman
latest. Thread 👇
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EXCL
@realDonaldTrump
was refused £38m from Bank of Scotland as he tried to a buy flagship Scottish property & create his first overseas hotel. Trump allegedly asked the bank to foreclose on its owners & deal directly with him. My 6,000w investigation:
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Your firm had an "official partnership" with the airport. You gave a press conference in one of its hangars in Nov 2014. Your company discussed business opportunities and integration with it, and provided it with discounted rates at Turnberry. It has everything to do with you.
I know nothing about an Air Force plane landing at an airport (which I do not own and have nothing to do with) near Turnberry Resort (which I do own) in Scotland, and filling up with fuel, with the crew staying overnight at Turnberry (they have good taste!). NOTHING TO DO WITH ME
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What a tender and beautiful addition to Glasgow's rich network of
#streetart
by the artist, Smug. St Enoch feeding her baby, St Kentigern, the city's patron saint.
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EXC
@realDonaldTrump
's inaugural Scottish golf resort has run up losses of more than £1m, marking the seventh consecutive year it has failed to turn a profit. My
@TheScotsman
story on
@TrumpScotland
(who blocked me yesterday):
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EXC Donald Trump exported his luxury helicopter for charters at his lossmaking Scottish resorts. Clients included wealthy Russians. But Trump Org's sent it back to the US amid waning demand & “anger” at TRUMP brand. My
@TheScotsman
investigation. Thread👇
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EXCL:
@realDonaldTrump
's inaugural Scottish resort bills itself as "one of Scotland's finest luxury wedding venues," but since it opened in 2012, it's hosted just *12* marriages, with bookings plummeting since he came to office. My
@scotonsunday
story:
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Breaking:
@CREWcrew
has called on the US Justice Dept &
@OfficeGovEthics
to investigate whether
@realDonaldTrump
has violated public financial disclosure rules for not declaring a £40m+ loan to his inaugural Scottish golf resort in his OGE filings dating back to 2017.
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ICYMI Trump Turnberry today posted losses of £2.3m, days after his other Scottish property lost £1.1m. Both firms have lost £55m, owe circa £150m to Trump or LLCs/trusts, have never turned a profit, or paid corporation tax.
*Where* is the £ coming from?
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This particular strain of clickbait will be prominent today, and is best ignored. *Anyone* can receive a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, and Trump's came from a far-right anti-immigration Norwegian parliamentarian (who also nominated Trump in 2018).
BREAKING: Donald Trump nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
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Firstly, Trump lists his income from ‘golf related revenue’ at Turnberry as $9.8m. Which is interesting, given the latest UK accounts for Turnberry's parent company registered losses of £2.3m ($3.1m) for the 12 months to 31 Dec 2019.
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The aurora borealis flickering and shimmering over Shetland last night. Stunning pictures by Ryan Nisbet.
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This is how Glaswegians respond to attempts by authorities to forcibly remove immigrants from a city renowned the world over for its warm welcome. Glasgow belongs to all of us.
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EXCL The Trump Org is planning a new "world class coastal retreat" in Scotland. It says it'll meet growing demand for "investment opportunities" & mark its entry into the retirement property market. But there are Qs over the development & Trump's finances.
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NEW: The Scottish Government has told me the Trump Organisation has paid up the £225,000 legal bill it owed after a failed legal battle which reached the UK's highest court.
@realDonaldTrump
's firm fought for 3 years but settled after losing 2 appeals.
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ICYMI The Scottish Govt has been urged to seek an Unexplained Wealth Order targeting
@realDonaldTrump
's UK resorts.
@patrickharvie
says there are "reasonable grounds" to suspect Trump, or those he is connected with, have been involved in "serious crime."
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An amazing AP image from the streets of Paris this evening
#CharlieHebdo
http://t.co/Ih7hzb4Zg3
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NEW: My
@TheScotsman
column on the myriad inconsistencies & contradictions surrounding the financing of Trump's Scottish firms ahead of tomorrow's vote on whether ministers should go to court to seek an Unexplained Wealth Order against the ex US president.
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EXC Losses at
@realDonaldTrump
's Turnberry resort have more than doubled to £10.7m, marking the 5th consecutive year it's failed to turn a profit. It remains reliant on £115m in loans & its helicopter charter biz has been scrapped. My
@TheScotsman
latest:
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EXC Trump Org’s plans for major expansion of Turnberry, its flagship overseas resort, have been rejected.
@EricTrump
hoped to build housing & luxury villas at lossmaking property, but failed trying to get land in Q rezoned. My
@TheScotsman
story. Thread 👇
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I can't get enough of how Glasgow city centre has been transformed into 1969 Manhattan to replicate the Apollo 11 ticker tape parade for the new Indiana Jones movie. Spellbinding set design.
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There's a similar pic with his Aberdeenshire resort. Trump says its value is $50m+. Accounts show it owes £44m ($60m) on assets of just £32m ($43m).
In short, Trump claims his two Scots firms are worth $100m+
The accounts show they're in negative equity to the tune of $112m.
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Good scoop by
@NatashaBertrand
, raises further Qs about the relationship b/w Turnberry, USAF & the Scottish Govt owned Prestwick Airport. Quick thread follows .
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A final, important point - Trump claims the value of each of his Scottish resorts is $50m+. It's worth remembering that Turnberry lists assets of £62m ($85m) in its UK accounts, yet is indebted to the tune of £113m ($154m). Which gives it equity of, uh, minus £51m ($69m)
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Even the turnover in the UK accounts - listed as £19.6m ($26.8m) is a country mile off that income figure listed in Trump's OGE filings. Comparing like for like, even accounting for that weird 'golf related revenue' descriptor, it's not even close.
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EXCL: The latest accounts for Donald Trump's flagship Turnberry resort show it ran up losses of £2.3m in 2019, despite a record turnover. The firm has now lost nearly £45m under the outgoing US president's ownership. My
@TheScotsman
story:
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EXC A senior Scottish Govt minister was told last year of allegations Prestwick Airport is “financially subsidising” inbound US military aircraft. US Congress is investigating ties b/w the US military, the state-owned airport & Trump Turnberry. Thread 👇
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Thoughts with the Mail on Sunday junior reporter currently in a taxi en route to Pizza Express in Woking
#PrinceAndrew
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I'll have more on this tonight and - of course - tomorrow. I'll be following the debate, and by the sounds of it, so will Eric.
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Anyway, my takeaway, for what it's worth, is the same as it's been for the past four years: it doesn't make sense.
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You 'let the side down' by missing a penalty or getting sent off while playing Sunday league football. Maintaining an association with a convicted paedophile and remaining so blasé about the fact a decade later is evidence of a graver failing of character, morality, and judgment.
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EXCL: Donald Trump's Scottish resort has been told to make a raft of improvements by environmental health officials after an array of cleanliness and food safety issues, incl dirty chopping boards & raw meat vaccuum packers, and out of date sausage meat.
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Finally. The front page of tomorrow's India Express (with a nice nod to the history being made thanks to the Indian heritage of VP elect
@KamalaHarris
)
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Donald Trump's Boeing 757 is currently approaching the Aberdeenshire coast as he arrives in Scotland. If he looks out to his left, he should have an unrivalled view of the offshore windfarm development he tried - and failed - to prevent going ahead.
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The statement doesn't address the issue of an Unexplained Wealth Order, or allegations that have been made about the Trump Org's Scottish finances.
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And finally, it's worth noting that before entering the White House, Trump was in direct talks with airlines to bolster business and passenger traffic at the ailing Prestwick Airport. Don't take my word for it - take Trump's ...
“US tycoon Donald Trump in talks with Ryanair to bring more flights back to Prestwick Airport”
http://t.co/9zLfXM3U4B
via
@Daily_Record
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Calls by senior cabinet minister to deny Donald Trump entry to UK on the basis his presence is "not conducive to the public good" after violent riots target US Capitol:
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BREAKING: The Pentagon has spent at least $184,000 (£147,000) in US taxpayer funds at Donald Trump’s Turnberry resort, the US House Oversight Committee says. Full story soon.
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There's been a further 264 orders placed by the US Defence Dept at Prestwick since June. In some cases the airport's receiving six-figure sums in a single day for multiple refuelling of USAF aircraft. If you know more on this, and USAF custom at Trump Turnberry, my DMs are open.
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EXCL Trump family is “frustrated” at being unable to pursue “foreign investments & opportunities” according to
@realDonaldTrump
’s seniormost UK executive, who says “everybody in the Trump Org is going to write a book” My
@TheScotsman
longread. Thread 👇
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If you drill down in more detail, and subtract the administrative expenses at Turnberry's parent firm from its turnover in order to get closer to whatever that 'income' figure entails, the number is still £12.5m ($17.2m).
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EXCL US Defence Dept expenditure at the Scottish Govt owned Prestwick Airport has spiked dramatically in recent months. It's spent £4.8m on USAF refuelling since March 2019. My
@TheScotsman
latest, inc the US Congress investigation revealed by
@politico
:
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Here is a document I obtained, prepared by the Trump Organisation, detailing its "official partnership" with the airport.
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I’m not sure what appetite exists for the US to explore all this given Trump's gone, but it’s worth highlighting. I’m not sure what timeframe he's claiming this income was made in, but if it’s after 2019, that’d be even more unusual, given the impact Covid-19 has had on his biz.
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And if you go deeper, and account for the gains the company made in foreign exchanges, and deduct depreciation and amortisation costs, the figure is £9.9m ($13.6m). Still a way off the OGE number.
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The
@nytimes
Trump tax expose lends urgency to a persistent Q asked throughout his presidency, one which may outlast it: where did his money come from? My analysis for
@TheScotsman
incl how Trump Org hasn't paid a *penny* in UK corporation tax in 15 years:
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NEW: Donald Trump has been found liable for the 'false valuation' of his lossmaking resort in Aberdeenshire, with a judge ruling that the former US president committed fraud for years while amassing his international property portfolio. Me for
@TheScotsman
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