Donald Trump’s Scottish golf course scandal

This 31 May 2019 video from the USA says about itself:

How much do Trump’s golf trips cost? According to a new study, President Trump has cost the American taxpayers $102 million already with his 175 presidential golf trips. Before entering the White House, Trump claimed he wouldn’t have much time to play golf, but that has not been the case throughout the Trump administration. This Trump news today, confirms what many already worried about Trump‘s golf trips. … President Donald Trump is also making money off his golf trips because many of the golf courses he plays on are Trump golf courses at Trump properties.

The U.S. government reportedly forked over more than $77,000 to Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland ahead of the president’s recent stay there.

Donald Trump’s Turnberry staff ‘left with wages under legal minimum on 10 days of shifts’. An employee has told how management at the US president’s Scottish golf resort withhold overtime pay and make them work like “robots”: here.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Investigate Trump’s purchase of his Ayrshire golf course, SNP urged

Green MSP Patrick Harvie called on the Scottish government to seek an unexplained-wealth order for the buyout of the Turnberry resort

THE Scottish government has been pressed to use its powers to investigate US president Donald Trump’s purchase of an Ayrshire golf course.

At First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood today, Green MSP Patrick Harvie called for the SNP administration to seek an unexplained-wealth order (UWO) for the buyout of the Turnberry resort.

A report published last year by global activist group Avaaz outlines “serious financial misconduct” among Mr Trump’s “inner circle” during the period of his purchase of the course, with his former campaign manager also pleading guilty to money laundering.

UWOs, brought into force two years ago, allow Scottish ministers to instruct investigation of the finances of someone from outside the European Economic Area in a position of power that makes them liable to bribery or corruption.

Ministers would apply to the Court of Session for such an order to be put in place.

If the individual or their family cannot show a legitimate source for their riches, authorities can apply to seize the property.

Mr Harvie said that UWOs were designed “precisely for these kinds of situations,” urging SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon to take action.

He added: “Trump’s known sources of income do not explain where the money came from in these huge cash transactions.

“There are reasonable grounds for suspecting that his lawfully obtained income was insufficient.

“Trump is a politically exposed person in terms of the law, and there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that he, or people he is connected with, have been involved in serious crime.

“Scotland cannot be a country where anyone with the money can buy whatever land and property they want, no questions asked.”

The First Minister made clear that she was “no defender” of Mr Trump, adding that any matter of criminality surrounding the purchase of the golf courses was a matter for Police Scotland and the Crown Office.

Ms Sturgeon also pledged to look into the “serious” issue raised by Mr Harvie and get back to him in full.

The Morning Star understands that the original Avaaz report, which also urged the Scottish government to seek a UWO, was passed by ministers to the Crown Office in May 2019.

Where did @realDonaldTrump get the money to buy it after multiple bankruptcies? Why was @DonaldJTrumpJr bragging about access to Russian cash? Scotland’s government should be seeking an Unexplained Wealth Order to get real answers. https://t.co/OlJ4Hg5Gi1

— Avaaz (@Avaaz) February 27, 2020