Sarah Burris is a long-time veteran of political campaigns, having worked as a fundraiser and media director across the United States. She transitioned into reporting while working for Rock the Vote, Future Majority and Wiretap Magazine, covering the Millennial Generation's perspective during the presidential elections. As a political writer, Burris has had bylines at CNN, Salon.com, BNR, and AlterNet and serves as a senior digital editor for RawStory.com.
New court documents reviewed by the New York Times reveal Donald Trump's Australian pal, Anthony Pratt, told a lot of people about life at Mar-a-Lago post-presidency. Among the things he said, involved trashing Trump behind his back.
Pratt, the Australian billionaire that Trump revealed classified information to, told around 45 people about the classified info as well as a number of things about his presidential pal.
Not only did Trump tell his wife, Melania, to strut around the property in a bikini, but Pratt paid Trump tens of thousands of overages for ticket prices for events at the country club.
"Another witness told prosecutors about hearing uncorroborated reports that Mr. Pratt spent $1 million for tickets to a Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve gala — voluntarily paying the club a huge markup for tickets that actually cost $50,000 or less, according to two people with knowledge of the previously unreported testimony," said the report.
It's unclear if Trump gave Pratt the classified intelligence before or after he voluntarily paid the club a huge markup for tickets.
Unlike "most" who were paying for influence at Mar-a-Lago, Pratt "played the game better," said the report. "Mr. Pratt used his money and flattery to get on Mr. Trump’s radar: He lavished praise on him in public appearances, bought newspaper ads that hyped Mr. Trump as a job creator and became a member of Mar-a-Lago."
Behind Trump's back, he was trashing the president. "60 Minutes Australia" obtained a "covert recording" that revealed Pratt claiming Trump running his businesses "like the mafia."
Pratt also recalled a Dec. 2019 discussion where Trump shared a call he had with Iraq leaders after a military strike on Iranian-backed forces. A drone attack days later killed Iran's intelligence commander.