President Donald Trump participated in dubious tax schemes during the 1990s, including instances of outright fraud, that greatly increased the fortune he received from his parents, an investigation by The New York Times has found. Mr Trump won the presidency proclaiming himself a self-made billionaire, and he has long insisted that his father, legendary New York City builder Fred C. Trump, provided almost no financial help. But The Times’ investigation, based on a vast trove of confidential tax returns and financial records, reveals that he received the equivalent today of at least $413m from his father’s real estate empire, starting when he was a toddler and continuing to this day. Much of this money came to Trump because he helped his parents dodge taxes. He and his siblings set up a sham corporation to disguise ms of dollars in gifts from their parents, records and interviews show. Records indicate that Trump helped his father take improper tax deductions worth … [Read more...] about Trump dodged hundreds of millions in inheritance taxes, documents show
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In Europe, Melania is the Trump sticking to the script
London (CNN)In London on Friday, as their spouses doubled-down on the fractious relationship between the United States and Great Britain, US first lady Melania Trump and Philip May were lawn bowling. Bending over a grassy patch of green at a London veterans' retirement center to toss small balls at a larger ball, seeing who could get theirs closest, Trump and May (the spousal version) looked as though they hadn't a care in the world, May in his new blue suit, purchased just for the occasion, his wife British Prime Minister Theresa May said. While US President Donald Trump and his British counterpart were busy making peace after Trump's bombastic interview with the UK's Sun newspaper, Melania Trump was trying to make a small flower pin during an arts and crafts session at the center, this time among school children. Melania Trump promotes kindness in London after President bashes May "How does mine look? Is it OK?" she asked the prime minister's husband. "Very professional," … [Read more...] about In Europe, Melania is the Trump sticking to the script
Gina Haspel, Trump’s pick to run the CIA, passes crucial Senate committee vote
Donald Trump's pick to lead the CIA has passed a crucial Senate committee vote, all but guaranteeing she will be confirmed as the first female director of the agency. Gina Haspel, a 33-year CIA veteran and current acting director of the agency, passed her Senate Intelligence Committee vote easily, with 10 senators in favour and five opposing. Thanks to five Democratic senators who've said they'll support her nomination, she is widely expected to pass a forthcoming full Senate vote. Ms Haspel was a controversial choice for CIA director given her involvement in the agency's post-9/11 interrogation programme. In her Senate confirmation hearing, Ms Haspel refused to disavow techniques previously used by the CIA – such as waterboarding – or to deem them "immoral". Read more Trump's pick for CIA director secures enough votes for confirmation But in letters to Democratic senators ahead of the committee vote, Ms Haspel said the CIA … [Read more...] about Gina Haspel, Trump’s pick to run the CIA, passes crucial Senate committee vote
Gina Haspel: Trump’s pick for CIA director secures enough votes for confirmation
Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA has secured enough votes to be confirmed, despite concerns over her involvement in a controversial post-9/11 interrogation programme that some have called torture. Democratic Senators Mark Warner and Heidi Heitkamp pledged their support for nominee Gina Haspel on Tuesday, all but ensuring that the career intelligence officer would be confirmed as CIA director in her forthcoming Senate vote. Mr Warner had been critical of Ms Haspel, a 33-year CIA veteran and the first woman nominated to lead the agency. He called the decision to support her nomination “difficult,” but said it was informed by her decades of service at the agency. Read more Who is the woman Donald Trump wants to take over the CIA? “Over the last year I’ve had the opportunity to work with Ms Haspel in her role as Deputy Director, and I have always found her to be professional and forthright with the Intelligence Committee,” said Mr … [Read more...] about Gina Haspel: Trump’s pick for CIA director secures enough votes for confirmation
Trump’s new crusade against the NHS has the potential to destroy his reputation in Europe once and for all
There’s lots of chatter in the travel blogs about low fares from the US to Europe this summer and how Americans should rush to take advantage. Many will and I wish them a lovely time. But maybe they should steer clear of politics lest their hosts give them a roasting they won’t forget. Some more seasoned American travellers will recall there have been other moments in time when a trip across the pond carried the risk of being lectured upon arrival about the errors of their country’s ways, notably during the Bush-Cheney era and the war in Iraq. With you-know-who in the White House now, we almost forget how divisive a time that was, some of us even catching ourselves reflecting that old George W. was a decent sort really. You know, by comparison. But then last week’s confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill for Gina Haspel to become the next director of the CIA jolted us out of that little daydream. We were reminded all at once about the last time the United … [Read more...] about Trump’s new crusade against the NHS has the potential to destroy his reputation in Europe once and for all