Trump ballroom donor to lead state department’s $200m Armenia fund

Konstantin Sokolov, who gave undisclosed sum and has not held government job before, to chair Tripp+ trade project

Konstantin Sokolov, a Russian-born private equity investor in Chicago, will serve as chairman of a new state department enterprise fund overseeing more than $200m designated for a central Asia trade corridor, including investments in transportation, energy infrastructure and critical minerals, the Guardian has learned. The state department confirmed his appointment on Friday.

Sokolov was one of 36 donors, including 21 corporations and 15 individuals and family foundations, who Donald Trump said contributed over $350m to his ballroom project.