The FBI is looking into a possible bribery scheme involving President Donald Trump’s daughter and her business partners, according to people familiar with the matter.
The probe is in response to the revelation that Tomsulah Tomsulas brother and other family members used a $1.6 million payment to purchase a property on Staten Island from his brother-in-law.
It is not clear if Tomsulias brother- in-law is the same person who allegedly paid for the properties.
The federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York Attorney General’s office have not said whether they are investigating the money laundering scheme.
The FBI declined to comment.
Tomsules lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The indictment alleges that Tamsula used a company in Nevada to purchase the Staten Island property for $1,700,000 in 2018, and the sale was approved in July 2019.
It says the payments were made in return for political favors.
A federal prosecutor said the indictment shows that Tumans brother and others in the Trump administration knew about the potential bribery scheme and continued to help him and his brother with their business ventures despite knowing it was illegal.
The alleged scheme involves a business associate of Tomsuls family, John Tomsulo, who was paid by the government for “public assistance” in the city of Staten Island.
He allegedly helped the family with construction of the Trump Tower on the Staten island property and also made campaign donations to the Trump campaign.
Tumas brother, Eric Tomsum, also was charged with money laundering and conspiracy.
He is also accused of violating campaign finance laws by contributing more than $500,000 to Trump’s election campaigns.
Tamsulah is charged with making false statements to federal agents.
A lawyer for the Tumets said he did not know about the scheme until after Tomsule was charged.
He said Tomsulus brother was “shocked” and “disappointed” by the charges.
“He has no comment at this time,” Tamsulias lawyer, David J. Karpowitz, said in a statement.
He added that he did “not know” about the investigation until after the indictment was unsealed and that the charges against Tomssulah “are a political attack on his family.”
The Tomses also have a dispute over the Staten islands real estate transaction.
Eric Tamsum filed for bankruptcy in 2018 and his wife has filed for a divorce.
The couple has three adult children.