According to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, deporting rapists and other criminals was one of Trump’s top priorities. But, an alleged criminal’s membership at the Mar-a-Lago, which is owned by Trump, persuaded the president to allow him to remain in the United States.
Guo Wengui, a Chinese businessman, is being investigated by the Chinese government for bribery, kidnapping, fraud, money laundering, and rape. Wengui has accused multiple Chinese government officials of corruption.
Wengui has applied for asylum in the United States and is currently residing in New York.
Wengui was brought to Trump’s attention during a private dinner at the White House, when the Chinese government gave him “a letter that Steve brought.” Steve Wynn, the carrier of the letter, is a casino mogul.
Wynn receives the licenses to operate in Chinese territory of Macau from the Chinese Government. The property in Macau is worth billions of dollars. Wynn also holds the position of “finance chairman” for the Republican National Committee.
The Wall Street Journal reported that when Trump finished reading the letter, he said, “We need to get this criminal out of the country.”
Trump’s response was altered after finding out that Wengui was a member of the Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida resort. The membership initiation fee was at least $100,000 and annual dues are $14,000. The resort, among other properties Trump owns, are a major generator of money for his personal fortune.
Aides of the president also mentioned to him that Wengui could become a bargaining chip for future discussions with China.
Some argue that how Trump is choosing to handle the Wengui situation reflects Trump’s susceptibility to corruption and how his business relationships affect his presidential decision making. Considering that Trump has refused to divest from his company is feared to be an easy route for people to trade money for favors.
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