The Curious World of Donald Trump's Private Russian Connections

[BlueMTexpat]

http://www.the-american-interest.com/2016/12/19/the-curious-world-of-donald-trumps-private-russian-connections/

Because this article dates from Dec 16, 2016, it may have been posted on DU before. If so, it is worth repeating, especially in light of the recent report from US intelligence agencies. It also provides some excellent background showing that the US does not necessarily have "clean hands."

Even so, NOTHING justifies foisting someone like Trump, not only on the US, but on the world. The stakes are just too high.

This is a long and excellent read.

From the introduction:

As veteran investigative economist and journalist Jim Henry shows below, a robust public record helps explain the fealty of Trump and his family to this murderous autocrat and the network of Russian oligarchs. Putin and his billionaire friends have plundered the wealth of their own people. They have also run numerous schemes to defraud governments and investors in the United States and Europe. From public records, using his renowned analytical skills, Henry shows what the mainstream news media in the United States have failed to report in any meaningful way: For three decades Donald Trump has profited from his connections to the Russian oligarchs, whose own fortunes depend on their continued fealty to Putin.

We don’t know the full relationship between Donald Trump, the Trump family and their enterprises with the network of world-class criminals known as the Russian oligarchs. Henry acknowledges that his article poses more questions than answers, establishes more connections than full explanations. But what Henry does show should prompt every American to rise up in defense of their country to demand a thorough, out-in-the-open congressional investigation with no holds barred. The national security of the United States of America and of peace around the world, especially in Europe, may well depend on how thoroughly we understand the rich network of relationships between the 45th President and the Russian oligarchy. When Donald Trump chooses to exercise, or not exercise, his power to restrain Putin’s drive to invade independent countries and seize their wealth, as well as loot countries beyond his control, Americans need to know in whose interest the President is acting or looking the other way.

[ghostsinthemachine]

1. K&R thanks for posting

[BadgerMom]

2. The Kushner home in DC

Last week the New York Times ran the story linked below. It reports that Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, purchased a home in Washington, DC's Kalorama neighborhood. The information that caught my eye was that it had previously been owned by a "Latvian-born financier with extensive investments in Russia and ties to a Russian opposition leader." The article goes on to say that the sale of the home occurred in December 2016 but was recorded as a private sale ($5.5 million, which seems a fair price) and that it's therefore uncertain whether the Kushners bought the home or if they are leasing it from a new owner.

The money in this story pales in comparison to the billions referenced in the article to which you link. But the Times also ran a story within the last few days about Jared Kushner's deals with China and Russia and the power he now wields as a Presidential confidante. If this is a simple transaction--just a home sale or lease--why the secrecy? Maybe it's just an inability to grasp transparency and it's importance as a public figure. But, come on. Disclose the financial arrangement here. Don't let anyone think you could have received a sweetheart deal on your house thanks to Russia.





http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/04/us/politics/ivanka-trump-house-kalorama-washington.html?_r=0

[BlueMTexpat]

3. Thanks for that information.

It appears that Jared's father, Charles, has also been in legal trouble, fitting right in with the other unsavory characters mentioned in the article I posted.

Charles Kushner (born May 16, 1954) is an American real estate developer, philanthropist and convicted felon. He founded Kushner Companies in 1985. In 2005, he was convicted of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering, and served time in federal prison. After his release he resumed his career in real estate.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kushner

Birds of a feather all flocking together ....

[jaysunb]

4. 58,000 reasons I loathe Trump and his traitous relationship.

For our purposes, one of the most interesting things to note about this YBM Magnex case is that its CEO was a Russian-American named Jacob Bogatin, who was also indicted in the Philadelphia case. His brother David had served in the Soviet Army in a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft unit, helping to shoot down American pilots like Senator John McCain. Since the early 1990s, David Bogatin was considered by the FBI to be one of the key members of Semion Mogilevich’s Russian organized crime family in the United States, with a long string of convictions for big-ticket Mogilevich-type offenses like financial fraud and tax dodging.

[BlueMTexpat]

5. Wow!

At least McCain is taking this seriously - unlike most other Republicans.

Thanks for that information!