Latest news with #Swamp
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Raskin investigating Trump meme coin event
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has opened an investigation into President Trump's meme coin dinner that took place last week and asked the White House to disclose the names of the attendees, warning that foreign governments could be attempting to curry favor with the president through cryptocurrency acquisitions. 'I write today to demand that you release the names of all the attendees at this dinner and provide information about the source of the money they each used to buy $TRUMP coins, so that we can prevent illegal foreign government emoluments from being pocketed without congressional consent,' Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, wrote in a late Wednesday letter to Trump. Raskin, who has often criticized the president's foreign dealings, argued that the disclosure of the names of the individuals who attended the May 22 private dinner at Trump's golf club will inform the public about 'who is putting tens of millions of dollars into our President's pocket so we can start to figure out what — beyond virtually worthless memecoins — they are getting in exchange for all this money.' The White House did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. The letter comes as Vice President Vance addressed the crypto industry at the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas this week, telling attendees to bolster their involvement in politics. The sector's heavy hitters spent north of $200 million to back crypto-aligned candidates during the 2024 election cycle. 'Take the momentum of your political involvement in 2024 and carry it forward to 2026 and beyond. Don't ignore politics, because I guarantee you, my friends, politics is not going to ignore this community, not now and not in the future,' Vance told the crowd on Wednesday. Fairshake, a pro-crypto Super PAC, and its two affiliates announced in late January that they have $116 million in cash on hand, preparing their war chest for the 2026 midterms. The dinner last week was limited to 220 attendees. The event drew $148 million in purchases, according to crypto firm Inca Digital. Presidents have long attended private dinners to fill the coffers of their political committees, but last week's event will likely benefit Trump family-affiliated businesses, according to Raskin. The buyers at the dinner were not required to file disclosures, as would be the case when donating to political committees. 'Profiting off the memecoin is just the latest in a bewildering gamut of schemes in which you and your family have profited after your return to office and what you call 'the Swamp,'' the Maryland Democrat said. The White House has previously said the private event does not constitute a conflict of interest, saying that Trump's assets are managed by his sons in a blind trust. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the occasion 'is not a White House dinner' and that Trump was attending it in 'his personal time.' Raskin also highlighted in his letter that a Chinese-born crypto mogul Justin Sun invested $75 million in World Liberty Financial, a Trump family venture, after the president won the 2024 presidential election. Then in February, the Securities and Exchange Commission asked a court to halt a suit against Sun for two months. The businessman has faced market manipulation charges since 2023. Sun confirmed that he is the biggest owner of the meme token at the dinner. 'Foreign nationals — who are not allowed to donate a dollar to your presidential campaign under federal election laws — are now purchasing access to you by buying millions of dollars of your personal memecoin,' Raskin wrote. 'Moreover, given the opaque nature of the cryptocurrency buying process, there are few ways to ensure that the money used to purchase your memecoins are not from foreign governments or illegal proceeds in connection with terrorism, drug and human trafficking, money laundering, or other illegal activities,' the Democratic lawmaker added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
Raskin investigating Trump meme coin event
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has opened an investigation into President Trump's memo coin dinner that took place last week and asked the White House to disclose the names of the attendees, warning that foreign governments could be attempting to curry favor with the president through cryptocurrency acquisitions. 'I write today to demand that you release the names of all the attendees at this dinner and provide information about the source of the money they each used to buy $TRUMP coins, so that we can prevent illegal foreign government emoluments from being pocketed without congressional consent,' Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, wrote in a late Wednesday letter to Trump. Raskin, who has often criticized the president's foreign deals, argued that the disclosure of the names of the individuals who attended the May 22 private dinner at Trump's golf club will inform the public about 'who is putting tens of millions of dollars into our President's pocket so we can start to figure out what—beyond virtually worthless memecoins—they are getting in exchange for all this money.' The White House did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. The letter comes as Vice President Vance addressed the crypto industry at the Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas this week, telling attendees to bolster their involvement in politics. The sector's heavy hitters spent north of $200 million to back crypto-aligned candidates during the 2024 election cycle. 'Take the momentum of your political involvement in 2024 and carry it forward to 2026 and beyond. Don't ignore politics, because I guarantee you, my friends, politics is not going to ignore this community, not now and not in the future,' Vance told the crowd on Wednesday. Fairshake, a pro-crypto Super PAC, and its two affiliates announced in late January that they have $116 million in cash on hand, preparing their war chest for the 2026 midterms. The dinner last week was limited to 220 attendees. The event drew $148 million in purchases, according to crypto firm Inca Digital. Presidents have long attended private dinners to fill the coffers of their political committees, but last week's event will likely benefit Trump family-affiliated businesses, according to Raskin. The buyers at the dinner were not required to file disclosures, as would be the case when donating to political committees. 'Profiting off the memecoin is just the latest in a bewildering gamut of schemes in which you and your family have profited after your return to office and what you call 'the Swamp,'' the Maryland Democrat said. The White House has previously said the private event does not constitute a conflict of interest, saying that Trump's assets are managed by his sons in a blind trust. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the occasion 'is not a White House dinner' and that Trump was attending it in 'his personal time.' Raskin also highlighted in his letter that a Chinese-born crypto mogul Justin Sun invested $75 million in World Liberty Financial, a Trump family venture, after the president won the 2024 presidential election. Then in February, the Securities and Exchange Commission asked a court to halt the suit for two months against Sun. The businessman has faced market manipulation charges since 2023. Sun confirmed that he is the biggest owner memo token at the dinner. 'Foreign nationals—who are not allowed to donate a dollar to your presidential campaign under federal election laws—are now purchasing access to you by buying millions of dollars of your personal memecoin,' Raskin wrote. 'Moreover, given the opaque nature of the cryptocurrency buying process, there are few ways to ensure that the money used to purchase your memecoins are not from foreign governments or illegal proceeds in connection with terrorism, drug and human trafficking, money laundering, or other illegal activities,' the Democratic lawmaker added.
USA Today
11-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Orange and Blue Game rosters released for Florida football's spring scrimmage in the Swamp
Orange and Blue Game rosters released for Florida football's spring scrimmage in the Swamp The Florida Gators football program released the player and staff rosters for the upcoming Orange and Blue game, which will be held inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, April 12. The listings were posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday evening. The Orange team will be led by running backs coach Jabbar Juluke at head coach, with edge coach Mike Peterson serving as his assistant. The Blue team has defensive line coach Gerald Chatman at the helm, with assistant offensive line coach John Decoster at his side. The quarterbacks listed for the Orange team are Harrison Bailey, Trammell Jones, Aaron Williams and Lawrence Wright IV. The Blue team has DJ Lagway — who is currently dealing with some injury issues — along with Paul Kessler, Clay Millen and Aidan Warner. The rest of the rosters can be viewed below. About the Orange and Blue Game The 2025 edition of Florida's final intrasquad scrimmage of the spring will take place inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, April 12, with the kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET. The game will not be televised but will be open to the public. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. ET and all non-reserved parking on campus, including Lots 114 and the Stephen C. O'Connell Center garage, will be available for general parking on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission for the game is free. The university will honor the 2024-25 national champion men's basketball team during an extended 30-minute halftime event at approximately 2 p.m. ET. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
