Donald Trump Jr. faces scrutiny in Italy over alleged hunting of protected duck
FILE - Donald Trump Jr. sits in the courtroom. (Photo by Stefan T. Jeremiah-Pool/Getty Images)
MILAN - A recent hunting trip near Venice has drawn scrutiny after a video surfaced showing Donald Trump Jr. standing next to a dead ruddy shelduck, a species protected in Europe.
The footage, shared by Trump Jr.'s own Field Ethos website, has led to calls from Italian politicians for an investigation into whether the hunting party illegally killed the bird.
Why is Trump Jr.’s hunting trip under investigation?
The backstory:
Andrea Zanoni, a member of the Europa Verde party in the Veneto region, called for authorities to take action, claiming that killing a ruddy shelduck is a criminal offense under Italian law.
He has urged legislators to coordinate with Italy’s environment minister to investigate and potentially suspend the hunting reserve’s authorization.
What does Trump Jr. say?
The other side:
A spokesperson for Trump Jr. said his group had all required permits and was hunting in a legal area where many other groups were also present.
The spokesperson added that it is unclear whether the protected duck was shot by someone in Trump Jr.’s group or retrieved by their hunting dog after being shot by another party.
What's next:
Italian authorities have yet to announce whether they will formally investigate the hunt. If violations are found, penalties could range from fines to potential hunting license revocations for those involved.
The Source: This article is based on reporting from the Associated Press and statements from Italian politicians and representatives for Donald Trump Jr. This story was reported from Los Angeles.