Report: Trump's Ukraine Extortion Scheme Was Financed by Russia

[dajoki]

Report: Trump’s Ukraine Extortion Scheme Was Financed by Russia
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/12/report-parnas-russia-ukraine-trump-impeachment-giuliani-money.html?utm_source=tw

President Trump is facing impeachment primarily for abusing his power for political gain, extorting a foreign country to discredit his political rivals. The secondary aspect of the plot is that the target of his extortion is hardly random. Ukraine is the victim of Russian aggression, and Russia’s continuing incursions into Ukrainian territory is the muscle that gave Trump’s threats leverage. Trump’s domestic interests are one intended beneficiary of his scheme. The other is Vladimir Putin.

Trump and his allies insist he has actually pursued a hawkish line in Ukraine. “Mr. Trump didn’t withhold military aid to Ukraine, and even if he had he would have merely been returning to Barack Obama’s policy of denying lethal aid,” argues a Wall Street Journal editorial. “No one has done more to limit Russia’s ability to engage in mischief than President Trump,” insists Representative Matt Gaetz in a Fox News segment retweeted by the president.

Meanwhile, federal prosecutors charged yesterday evening that Lev Parnas, an associate of President Trump who represented him in Ukraine, was wired $1 million from a Russian bank account weeks before his arrest. Which is to say, Trump’s Ukraine plot appears to have been financed by Russia.

Parnas met repeatedly with Trump and his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. Parnas claims Trump pulled him aside at last year’s White House Hanukkah party and personally directed his activities in Ukraine. That allegation remains unproven. What is proven, though, is that Parnas met with Trump numerous times (there are photographs), was Giuliani’s official business partner, and represented himself to Ukrainians as an agent of both Trump and Giuliani.

Rudy has worked as Trump’s lawyer for “free,” but Parnas paid him half a million dollars for his work. If Parnas himself was being paid by Russian sources, this means the Russians were essentially subsidizing Trump, paying for the work themselves so he didn’t have to lay out a dime of his own money.

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[BSdetect]

1. Is this not a CIA matter? Why are they not revealing details of massive fund tranfers?

[triron]

5. My bet is they are on it but it will be kept quiet. It is unadulterated treason that happened.

Public will not be allowed to know because it the disruption to, and reaction of social components of, our society is unpredictable.

[Baked Potato]

6. This

Same reason they said from day one no votes were changed. Street action.

[triron]

7. You hit the nail on the head.

[Pachamama]

14. +100000

This...

[joost5]

12. It's because Rudy is still under investigation

There will be charges brought against him for being an "unregistered" foreign agent, illegal wire transfers, etc.

The hammer is going to come down on Rudy and there's not much even Barr can do to stop it.

[NightWatcher]

2. So just like Screamy Repukey yells, "no crime. No big deal"

The heads of Heads of State have rolled throughout history for a lot less.

I can't think of many more crimes that should be punished by execution of a ruler or president.

[triron]

3. And directed by the Kremlin. Trump and his evil cabal committed treason.

[spanone]

4. K&R...

[Botany]

8. This should be one more impeachment charge

How many times did Trump say no contacts with Russia. Ukraine = Putin = Russia = Trump

[rocktivity]

9. Well, Golllleeeee -- and

rocktivity

[Mme. Defarge]

10. This supports my theory

that it is Russia/Putin - not Trump - that is hell bent on preventing Biden from getting the Democratic nomination to run against the Republican candidate for president in 2020.

[Red Pest]

11. Simply put - Follow the Money

What was true in Watergate is true now and is especially the case when it comes to Trump.

He is totally driven by money. Follow the money and we see that it has always been Russia financing Trump. Pee tape? Who cares, just follow the money...back to 1987 when the KGB first got to Trump. Money laundered through Trump real estate & loans from Russia-influenced Deutsche Bank kept Trump in business.

Putin has all of this documented and has the carrot (meat) = money and the stick = release the information on all of the money Trump has taken and all of the favors he has done.

What I don't understand is why the Republicans blindly support Trump. Do we have the "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" occurring? Or is it that they are all implicated in taking money from Russia? Or are the Republicans just so corrupt that with Trump they envision continued tax cuts, deregulation, rollback of abortion rights & other civil rights, and permanent Republican domination of judges, etc? I guess some combination of all of the above.

[Pachamama]

15. I pray and hope daily that someone is following the Money

And to every single person it flows....

[Duppers]

13. Our country was in less danger during the Cold War.

A country divided cannot stand.
- Lincoln

Fact: Fox is a subversive organization.

[triron]

17. The republic may very well not survive the 'Trump reign'.

[GoCubsGo]

16. I would be surprised if they weren't.

They're the ones who cooked up this scheme in the first place.