Dem calls to investigate FIFA president Gianni Infantino
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a red card as he meets with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., August 28, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, formally requested FIFA president Gianni Infantino appear before the committee and turn over records documenting any gifts or benefits provided to President Donald Trump, his administration, or the Trump Organization.
Sent on Sunday night, Raskin's letter demands visitor logs from FIFA's Miami and New York offices, along with preserved communications between FIFA staff and Trump administration officials via Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp, reported The Athletic.
The inquiry focuses on FIFA's suspicious proximity to Trump, including creating a "Peace Prize" for the president, leasing Trump Tower office space, and relocating the World Cup draw to the Kennedy Center after Trump allies assumed control.
Raskin also questions the Justice Department's recent decision to drop long-running international soccer corruption cases, suggesting a potential quid pro quo.
The letter further addresses FIFA's controversial ticketing practices under state investigation.