Trump Town: We need your help to unmask who is actually behind LLCs listed in officials financial

[blondebanshee]

disclosures. Instead of focusing on President Trump’s businesses, we’re looking more broadly at business interests in the Trump administration. We’re also giving you, our listeners, homework.

Last month, ProPublica published the first comprehensive and searchable database of Trump’s 2,685 political appointees, along with their federal lobbying and financial records. It’s the result of a year spent filing Freedom of Information Act requests, collecting staffing lists and publishing financial disclosure reports.

We’ve found plenty in the documents. We know there are lots of lobbyists now working at agencies they once lobbied (including one involving an herbicide that could affect the sexual development of frogs). We know there are dozens of officials who’ve received ethics waivers from the White House. We know there are “special-government employees” who are working in the private sector and the government at the same time.

Listen at: [link:https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/trump-inc-podcast-trump-ex-lobbyist-chemically-castrated-frogs|

Here’s step-by-step-instructions on how you can dig in: [link:https://www.propublica.org/article/how-you-can-use-trump-town|

[link:https://projects.propublica.org/trump-town/|

[Wwcd]

1. Well worth the read! Thanks for this post, blondebanshee

I have read about tech moguls like Zuckerburg & others who put funds into an LLC, and distrubute charitable donations from those LLC's.

It is a round about way of protectiing all funds moved to the LLC, while still donating a determined amount to charities.

In the case at issue in the posted article, are the LLC's used to protect funneled (laundered or foreign) money, which is then given to campaigns or political kickbacks?

Does the LLC protect its source of funds?

[Frustratedlady]

2. Seems to also be used for paying off porn stars, right?

Didn't Cohen open an LLC for Stormy's $130K?

This would be a fun project and a good idea to sic computer gurus onto the trail of Trump's employees and contributors. I'd love to do it myself, but doubt if I have enough computer savvy. The results will be interesting and, perhaps, put these questionable characters on notice to watch their step. There are just TOO many connections between Trump people...the Russians...crime.

[blondebanshee]

3. You're welcome, Wwcd. LLCs structures often set up by small businesses that provide favorable

tax treatment while also protecting their owners’ assets. But some exist mainly to mask people’s identities. Exactly what LLCs can and can’t do in the political realm depends on how they file tax returns: as corporations, or not. If not, their revenues, losses and so on are included on the personal returns of the individual or partners who own the LLC.

Corporate LLCs and LLPs (limited liability partnerships) can’t donate directly to candidates; the noncorporate kind can, as long as they report the names of the individuals responsible for the donations. The contributions count toward an individual’s giving limits ($2,700 per candidate per election, but there’s no limit on gifts to super PACs.)

But many limited liability donations are reported with no names included. “LLC donations have created this whole new realm of transparency problems.

A donation could also cross the legal line by allowing foreign or corporate funds to flow into an election.

[Wwcd]

4. Thanks. I don't know a lot about LLC's as they relate to hiding funds

No doubt there exists a temptation to stretch the legal limit thru foreign or corporate funds.

Good info