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3 Feb, 6 tweets, 2 min read
NEW: MSPs have rejected calls for the Scottish Government to go to court in order to investigate the source of financing for Donald Trump’s Scottish properties. scotsman.com/news/politics/…
The central argument which defeated the motion was that were ministers to go to court, it would constitute an abuse of power, and undermine the criminal justice system.
.@patrickharvie, who brought the motion, said an application for an UWO would not constitute a prosecution, but rather "asking for information" about Mr Trump's finances.
Responding, @HumzaYousaf, the justice secretary, said that he deplored Mr Trump. But he stressed that were ministers to go to court, it would be tantamount to an "abuse of power," one that would "fundamentally undermine our justice system."
Mr Yousaf also said that Scotland's Civil Recovery Unit, which reports to the Lord Advocate, does not confirm or deny any investigations it is undertaking. "Any member who says there is not an investigation going on is merely speculating," he told parliament.
If you've got any tips or info about the Trump Organisation's business in Scotland, my DMs are open!

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More from @MartynMcL

Martyn McLaughlin Profile picture
3 Feb
A short thread on an interesting day covering the Holyrood vote on Trump: I'm perhaps more interested than most in obtaining answers to Qs surrounding Trump's finances. I never thought they'd arrive via a legislature, whether in Scotland or the US. Today confirmed that.
The courts, whether via criminal or civil cases, is the likeliest avenue for transparency. The multiple cases involving Trump's firms may yet reveal that, but the progress is glacial.
After years of obfuscation and by the Scottish Govt, I thought @HumzaYousaf made a strong argument in his amendment and debate. It didn't adequately address the fact that a UWO is a civil power and an investigative tool, but the principle he set out is important.
Read 8 tweets
Martyn McLaughlin Profile picture
3 Feb
Here's a quick thread on the chronology leading up to today's vote in the Scottish Parliament on whether ministers should go to court to investigate the finances of Donald Trump's Scottish resorts via a legal mechanism known as an Unexplained Wealth Order.👇
Intrigue surrounding the source of Trump's finances here is by no means new. An editorial in @TheScotsman questioned where the money was coming from back in *2008*. But the UWO issue came to prominence last Feb during exchanges in the Scottish Parliament. scotsman.com/news/politics/…
The issue returned to parliament last November, when First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said any consideration or application for an UWO were "properly matters for the Crown Office, not for the Scottish ministers."
Read 9 tweets
Martyn McLaughlin Profile picture
2 Feb
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. scotsman.com/news/politics/…
In a statement, Eric Trump, executive vice-president of his father's company, said: "At a critical time when politicians should be focused on saving lives and reopening businesses in Scotland, they are focused on advancing their personal agendas."
Eric also reserved criticism for @patrickharvie, who is bringing the debate to the Scottish Parliament. "Patrick Harvie," he said, "is nothing more than a national embarrassment with his pathetic antics that only serve himself and his political agenda."
Read 7 tweets
Martyn McLaughlin Profile picture
21 Jan
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 👇
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.
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.
Read 17 tweets
Martyn McLaughlin Profile picture
19 Jan
It's been a wild four years covering Trump. Now seems a good time for a thread on some of my stories.

First up, how Trump repeatedly tried & failed to convince a Scottish bank to lend him £38m for a failed hotel venture, while claiming he had £1bn in cash scotsman.com/news/politics/…
2/ How Trump's Turnberry resort was paid £52,000+ by the US government as he made a private visit to play multiple rounds of golf, and watch World Cup football matches in his room: 

scotsman.com/news/politics/…
3/ Wealthy Russian & US clients couldn't save Trump's Scottish helicopter charter firm. Pilots had to cover up the aircraft's TRUMP signage as his brand grew increasingly toxic. The venture was eventually liquidated, with the chopper shipped to the US

scotsman.com/news/uk-news/d…
Read 12 tweets
Martyn McLaughlin Profile picture
5 Dec 20
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👇🏻 scotsman.com/news/politics/…
These trips included a golfing tour of Trump’s Scottish courses by his son, Eric, and dozens of Trump Organisation customers, who flew in via private jet as part of an upmarket golfing excursion marketed by the Trump Org as the ‘Ultimate Links Tour’.
They also include a stay at Turnberry by Eric and his wife, Lara, to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony at one of the resort's refurbished courses. They were joined at the ceremony an actor dressed up as a 14th century Scottish monarch (with big sword). Pic: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty
Read 13 tweets

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