Trump's media company ‘rescued’ in 2022 by a Russian-American businessman of interest to FBI

The company of former U.S. president, Donald Trump, secured emergency loans through a trust backed by Russian-American businessman Anton Postolnikov, a figure of interest by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, The Guardian reported on April 3.

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Trump Media found itself in dire straits in 2021 following the launch of regulatory investigations and financial troubles, prompting it to seek emergency loans, including from the ES Family Trust. This trust opened an account at the small Paxum Bank on the Caribbean island of Dominica, "best known for providing financial services to the porn industry."

ES Family Trust was used as a front organization by Anton Postolnikov, co-owner of Paxum Bank and nephew of Alexander Smirnov, an associate of Russian dictator Putin, based on leaked documents.

Paxum Bank cannot issue loans in the U.S. due to a lack of a banking license, so Postolnikov may have used the front to "help save Trump Media," which had difficulty obtaining loans after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

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The ES Family Trust loaned $2 million in 2021 and $6 million in 2022 to Trump Media in exchange for shares. The trust's stake in Trump Media could now be worth $20-40 million, based on current valuations.

Postolnikov has not been charged, and there is no evidence that Trump or Trump Media knew about the nature of the loans beyond their lack of transparency. After the investigation's publication, a Trump Media representative said The Guardian was "spreading an untrue version" of the company's ties to Russia.

Postolnikov's close associate, Mikhail Shvartsman, also linked to ES Family Trust, faces charges of money laundering and insider trading of Digital World shares.

The funds from ES Family Trust helped Trump's media company "stay afloat" in 2022. Now, Trump stands to gain billions of dollars from the merger of Trump Media and Technology Group with Digital World Acquisition Corporation, which acquired the parent company of Truth Social, The Guardian reported.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine