Tangled web connects Russian oligarch money to GOP campaigns

[workinclasszero]

Tangled web connects Russian oligarch money to GOP campaigns
COMMENTARY 6 HRS AGO
Written by Ruth May, Contributor

Party loyalty is often cited as the reason that GOP leaders have not been more outspoken in their criticism of President Donald Trump and his refusal to condemn Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. Yet there may be another reason that top Republicans have not been more vocal in their condemnation. Perhaps it's because they have their own links to the Russian oligarchy that they would prefer go unnoticed.

Donald Trump and the political action committees for Mitch McConnell, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Lindsey Graham, John Kasich and John McCain accepted $7.35 million in contributions from a Ukrainian-born oligarch who is the business partner of two of Russian president Vladimir Putin's favorite oligarchs and a Russian government bank.

During the 2015-2016 election season, Ukrainian-born billionaire Leonid "Len" Blavatnik contributed $6.35 million to leading Republican candidates and incumbent senators. Mitch McConnell was the top recipient of Blavatnik's donations, collecting $2.5 million for his GOP Senate Leadership Fund under the names of two of Blavatnik's holding companies, Access Industries and AI Altep Holdings, according to Federal Election Commission documents and OpenSecrets.org.

https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/08/03/tangled-web-connects-russian-oligarch-money-gop-campaigns

[Gabi Hayes]

1. Not news here; good details, though

Dana?

Dana?

Are you there?

[BigmanPigman]

2. I suspected as much.

[workinclasszero]

3. The republican party is a fifth column of Russian oligarch owned traitors

How could this shit happen?

[Duppers]

4. Not surprised.

And under our noses. Great reporting by Ruth May.

That whole party is scrum.

Am a bit surprised that Lindsey Graham has been as critical of TRump as he has. McCain is leaving office, so he won't be on the take any longer, tg.

Thanks for posting this. A big K&R!!

[workinclasszero]

6. I think they used the threat of terrorism

to distract us while Russia moved in and bought the republican party wholesale.

[malaise]

5. K & R

for truth

[Scurrilous]

7. K&R