Next stop for Jack Smith is Trump's financial ties to the Saudis: columnist

A report from the New York Times that investigators working for special counsel Jack Smith have issued a subpoena demanding information from the Trump Organization regarding its international business dealings led Salon columnist Heather Digby Parton to suggest Smith and his people should place their emphasis on financial ties to the ruling family in Saudi Arabia.

According to the Times report, "The subpoena — drafted by the office of the special counsel, Jack Smith — sought details on the Trump Organization’s real estate licensing and development dealings in seven countries: China, France, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, according to the people familiar with the matter.

The subpoena sought the records for deals reached since 2017, when Mr. Trump was sworn in as president."

Parton wrote an investigation is definitely warranted into his boosting of the Saudi-backed LIV golf tour, which has converted the former president into a vocal cheerleader for the Saudis despite their execrable human rights record.

"At least someone is finally taking a look at what exactly was going on while Trump was running his business out of the Oval Office." Parton wrote, adding that Trump's golf courses have been hurting since the PGA abandoned them due to his many controversies, making the former president ripe for the plucking.

Although there is no direct appearance of deals during Trump's brief four years in office, there is likely much to look at since he lost his 2020 re-election, with an even greater concern about his third presidential bid.

"If Trump were just retiring to his golf resorts and taking advantage of all the contacts he made while president, it might be reasonable just to let it go in the interest of never having to think about him again," the Salon piece read.

"But he's the clear frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination and he's openly helping the Saudi regime 'sportswash' its human rights record while taking unknown millions from it," the Salon columnist wrote before adding, "Let's hope that unlike Robert Mueller, who refused to exceed his mandate and look at Trump's finances, Jack Smith sees this for the blatant corruption it is."

You can read the Salon article here.