John J. Cafaro, a businessman known for his significant donations to former President Donald Trump, faces scrutiny over an alleged connection to the company tasked with installing a water purification system in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This historic site in Washington, D.C. has been undergoing renovation, but the resurgence of algae blooms has sparked criticism.
Records of federal contracts reveal a $1.7 million agreement awarded to Greenwater Services, a company in Brookfield, Ohio, to install a ‘nano bubble’ device designed to eliminate algae. The New York Times has reported that the J.J. Cafaro Investment Trust, led by Cafaro, owns this business.
Over the years, Cafaro has contributed substantial sums to Trump, including a $250,000 donation in 2020 and another $100,000 in 2024, as noted by Federal Election Commission (FEC) records. According to a statement to the Times by Katie Martin, spokeswoman for the Department of the Interior, Greenwater Services was chosen for their expertise and resources; she clarified that the White House had no involvement.
Attempts to reach Greenwater Services for comment by Newsweek were made via email.
Who Is John J. Cafaro?
John J. Cafaro is described on LinkedIn as a veteran Ohio retail and manufacturing executive responsible for significant development projects, such as the South Hill Mall and Meadowbrook Mall. His business interests extend to assets in Florida and West Virginia.
In 2021, Cafaro pleaded guilty to bribing former Congressman James Traficant Jr., an Ohio Democrat. He was anticipated to testify against Traficant, according to reports by the Times. Additionally, he admitted to a campaign finance violation in 2020, as reported by Cleveland.com.
Contract Draws Political Criticism
The contract award has attracted criticism from prominent Democrats. Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, expressed his disbelief on X, stating, “You can’t make this s*** up.”
Moe Davis, a former U.S. Air Force colonel and congressional candidate, also shared his concerns on X: “This is Trump donor and Mar-a-Lago neighbor John Cafaro who got the no-bid contract to install a water purification system for the reflecting pool. He has two prior convictions, one for bribing a member of Congress and another for an illegal loan that violated campaign finance.”
This is a developing story, with more updates to follow.
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