Golf courses in Scotland MPs do not call for probe into Trump funding
Scottish MPs on Wednesday rejected a motion calling for an investigation into the origin of investments in Scotland by former US President Donald Trump, who owns two golf resorts there.
This motion at the initiative of the Green Party wanted the two golf courses of the Trump organization, located in Turnberry and in the Aberdeen region, to be the subject of an investigation through a procedure known as "injunction on unexplained wealth ”which aims to combat money laundering operations.
There are "serious concerns" about the way the former US president funded the cash purchases of his Scottish golf courses, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie told The Scotsman newspaper.
Donald Trump's son, Eric, criticized the debate, which he said risked deterring foreign investors. Calling Patrick Harvie a "national disgrace", he called on politicians to "save lives and reopen businesses in Scotland" in the midst of a pandemic, rather than discussing the source of the funding.
Mr. Harvie had accused Eric Trump of having a "whim" and stressed that he did not "say where his father got the money to buy his Scottish golf courses."
Ahead of the vote, a protester wearing a giant Trump mask and pulling a golf cart, pockets full of cash, held up a sign reading "investigate me" in front of Parliament.
The Trump organization’s presence in Scotland has sparked controversies before and during Donald Trump’s presidency, which have continued since he left the White House.
In 2018, his visit to Turnberry prompted thousands to demonstrate in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Last month Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned the outgoing President that he would not be welcome in Scotland during the pandemic if he wanted to come there to play golf.
Even if passed, the motion calling for an investigation would not have been binding, but MPs hoped to pressure the government into action.
The Scottish government had stressed to him in the week that the justice acted independently on such matters.
