Justice Department investigates potential illegal donation related to Trump's 2020 re-election

Ronna Romney McDaniel spoke before President-elect Donald Trump at the DeltaPlex Arena, December 9, 2016 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The Justice Department is reportedly investigating a suspicious $100,000 donation to a  pro-Trump fundraising committee that is a joint venture between the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee, and a swath of state GOP parties. 

The Wall Street Journal reports that in December 2017, Larry Davis, a U.S. citizen who co-owns the Hawaii-based investment company LNS Capital, made the donation to the Trump Victory committee, a 2020 political committee working to re-elect Trump. But federal investigators are examining whether an already-indicted Malaysian financier secretly footed the bill for that donation after he transferred $1.5 million in funds to LNS Capital seven months earlier. Federal law prohibits indirect campaign contributions made by foreign entities through U.S. citizens acting as a conduit.

The fugitive financier, Jho Low, was indicted last year in the U.S. for violating anti-bribery and money laundering laws. Low also allegedly sought to get the charges dismissed and Justice Department officials have subpoenaed people related to that effort. In addition, Low faces charges in Malaysia for attempting to bilk billions from a state fund known as 1Malaysia Development Bhd., or 1MDB. Authorities believe Low currently resides in China.

An RNC spokesperson "vehemently" denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, all three of the organization's finance chairs in the Trump era have stepped down due to scandal and/or illegal actions. It’s been a fine run for the RNC under the leadership of Ronna Romney McDaniel.