An investigation into the finances of Donald Trump’s inaugural committee has drawn attention and scrutiny to a massive donation of $1m (£790,000).

Real estate mogul Franklin Haney, a known political donor, gave the hefty sum to Mr Trump at the same time that the developer was seeking approval and government support in purchasing the Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant, which lies unfinished in Alabama.

Mr Haney, two years later, has yet to close the deal.

His donation to Mr Trump’s inaugural committee is being investigated by federal prosecutors in New York, whose search is focused, in part, on if those who handed cash to the committee received any benefits in return.

Prosecutors also are exploring if foreign nationals unlawfully donated funds to the committee. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan issued a subpoena last year demanding an array of financial records, including any “communications regarding or relating to the possibility of donations by foreign nationals.”

Criminals who worked for Trump Show all 5 1 /5 Criminals who worked for Trump Criminals who worked for Trump Michael Cohen Former lawyer for Donald Trump was sentenced to three years in prison on counts involving evading income tax, false disclosure of the hush money paid to Stormy Daniels and another hush money charge Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Paul Manafort Former campaign manager for Trump Manafort was found guilty in February 2018 of five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failure to disclose a foreign bank account. The crimes occurred prior to his appointment in Trump's campaign Getty Criminals who worked for Trump George Papadopoulos Former Trump campaign adviser Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in October 2017. He had lied about making contact with a professor who claimed that the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton. He was sentenced to 14 days in jail Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Michael Flynn Former White House National Security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in December 2017. He had lied about conversations that he had with the Russian ambassador to the US during Trump's Presidential campaign. He was not given prison time due to his "significant assistance" to the Mueller investigation Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Rick Gates Deputy chairman of Trump's presidential campaign Gates pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in February 2018 AFP/Getty

Mr Trump’s inaugural committee has denied any wrongdoing and claims all funds are accounted for.

The president’s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, had allegedly given the prosecutors information on Mr Haney and his son and business associate, Frank Haney Jr, regarding the nuclear plant project, according to an anonymous source that spoke to ABC.

Mr Haney had briefly hired Cohen, who is now serving a three year sentence for tax evasion, campaign finance violations and lying to congress, for his assistance in obtaining money for the power plant project from potential investors.

This is not the first time Mr Haney, 79, has faced allegations his political donations were an attempt at gaining influence. Mr Haney has been investigated by the US House Republicans in the past for his donations and political influence on the Clinton Administration, which moved the Federal Communications Commission into a building that would benefit the businessman, but the Justice Department declined to pursue the matter.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events