John J. Cafaro, a businessman and significant donor to former President Donald Trump, faces scrutiny concerning alleged connections to a company contracted for a water purification project at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The project has come under fire following the return of algae blooms, which have turned the water green.
Federal records reveal that a $1.7 million contract was awarded to Greenwater Services, located in Brookfield, Ohio. The company was tasked with installing a ‘nano bubble’ device to control the algae. According to The New York Times, this company is owned by J.J. Cafaro Investment Trust, led by Cafaro.
Cafaro has contributed large sums to Trump’s campaigns, including $250,000 in 2020 and $100,000 in 2024, as shown by Federal Election Commission (FEC) records reviewed by Newsweek.
Katie Martin, a spokeswoman for the Department of the Interior, stated to the Times that Greenwater Services was chosen for its expertise, workforce, and materials. She emphasized that the White House was not involved in the selection process. Newsweek contacted Greenwater Services for comments via email.
Who Is John J. Cafaro?
Cafaro’s LinkedIn profile notes his experience as an Ohio retail and manufacturing executive, managing major projects such as the South Hill Mall and Meadowbrook Mall. His management portfolio also includes assets in Florida and West Virginia. In 2021, he admitted to bribing former Congressman James Traficant Jr., according to The New York Times. In a separate case, Cafaro pleaded guilty in 2020 to a campaign finance offense, Cleveland.com reports.
Contract Under Scrutiny
The contract has attracted criticism from several prominent Democrats. Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, expressed disbelief on social media, exclaiming, “You can’t make this s*** up.” Former U.S. Air Force colonel and congressional candidate Moe Davis also criticized the contract, referencing Cafaro’s previous convictions for bribery and an illegal loan violating campaign finance laws, writing about it on social media.
This article is a developing news story and will be updated with further details as they become available.