November 8, 2025
The mayor’s workplace launched a press release defending the journey saying it was strictly enterprise and declare to be unaware of any investigation.
The subsequent Black girl to be focused by the Trump Administration is Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser, as The New York Occasions reported the Division of Justice (DOJ) has opened a federal corruption investigation right into a international journey she took along with her workers being paid by Qatar.
Reviews allege the investigation, overseen by the U.S. legal professional’s workplace in Washington, has been happening for months, beginning in April 2025, ensuing from a report from an area TV affiliate when Bowser and 4 members of her workers took a visit to Dubai in 2023 for a United Nations convention. A letter despatched to Bowser’s workplace from Qatari officers highlights Qatar paying greater than $61,000 to carry Bowser and her staff to Doha earlier than the convention began. When questioned in regards to the journey, the mayor’s workplace stated it was paid for by the D.C. Chamber of Commerce however then claimed it was coated by a nonpartisan group, the U.S. Convention of Mayors.
Nonetheless, later it was revealed that the group solely paid a portion of the journey.
The confusion resulted in an ethics criticism being filed by a nonprofit group referred to as the Basis for Accountability and Civic Belief, as soon as led by appearing legal professional normal throughout President Donald Trump’s first time period, Matthew G. Whitaker. Whereas it’s unknown how far the ethics criticism went, the mayor’s workplace launched a press release defending the journey, saying it was strictly enterprise. As well as, in response to Newsweek, they’ve been at nighttime in regards to the DOJ’s alleged investigation. “We have now checked with our attorneys, and the District has not been notified of any investigation. This was a enterprise journey; DC representatives often journey to advertise Washington as a vacation spot for funding and progress,” the assertion learn.
“This common work has helped carry funding, infrastructure, new enterprise, new grocery shops, progress, and jobs to the District.”
Parameters surrounding the case are nonetheless unclear, equivalent to pinpointing if Bowser’s workplace did something for the Qatari authorities in return for the journey, which might be a vital component for allegations of potential bribery. Legal circumstances involving marketing campaign finance legislation must reveal any wrongdoing or misstatements that had been intentional, slightly than simply errors inside paperwork.
The timing of the alleged investigation is fascinating as Trump has put strain on the DOJ to prosecute some political enemies — a lot of them being Black, Democratic ladies leaders — along with terminating federal prosecutors who fail to bow right down to his orders. Nonetheless, this isn’t the primary time political leaders have been below scrutiny for having dealings with the Center Japanese nation.
The president is one in every of them. Simply months after taking workplace, the administration was below fireplace from Congress after formally accepting a 747 jetliner from Qatar, labeled as an improve to Air Power One. Valued at near $200 million, the large plane is among the largest international presents ever given to the U.S. authorities.
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