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highplainsdem

(48,723 posts)
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 10:45 AM Jan 2018

FBI investigating whether Russian money went to NRA to help Trump

Source: McClatchy

The FBI is investigating whether a top Russian banker with ties to the Kremlin illegally funneled money to the National Rifle Association to help Donald Trump win the presidency, two sources familiar with the matter have told McClatchy.

FBI counterintelligence investigators have focused on the activities of Alexander Torshin, the deputy governor of Russia’s central bank who is known for his close relationships with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and the NRA, the sources said.

It is illegal to use foreign money to influence federal elections.

-snip-

Disclosure of the Torshin investigation signals a new dimension in the 18-month-old FBI probe of Russia’s interference. McClatchy reported a year ago that a multi-agency U.S. law enforcement and counterintelligence investigation into Russia’s intervention, begun even before the start of the 2016 general election campaign, initially included a focus on whether the Kremlin secretly helped fund efforts to boost Trump, but little has been said about that possibility in recent months.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article195231139.html

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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FBI investigating whether Russian money went to NRA to help Trump (Original Post) highplainsdem Jan 2018 OP
Right wing fascism .... using gun humpers to get their way Botany Jan 2018 #1
Eric Garland is tweeting this story L. Coyote Jan 2018 #6
So the NRA could have been using Russian money in senate races too? Botany Jan 2018 #8
While targeting presidential swing state races. L. Coyote Jan 2018 #9
Russ Feingold was @ 90% chance of winning Botany Jan 2018 #10
Wisconsin has rigged elections, stealing black votes in Milwaukee tips the scale. L. Coyote Jan 2018 #11
Walker's "win" in the recall never passed my smell test. Botany Jan 2018 #12
The Supreme Court election revealed the theft: L. Coyote Jan 2018 #13
Then these crooks must be removed Abouttime Jan 2018 #29
Well, Senator Ben Cardin's been making news. Hortensis Jan 2018 #31
Excellent post RandomAccess Jan 2018 #35
So bringing down Trump could also take down the NRA? VMA131Marine Jan 2018 #2
Indeed, the National RICO Association may crumble. L. Coyote Jan 2018 #7
Wouldn't that be marvellous, and under a GOP administration Hekate Jan 2018 #26
Awesome - kill 2 birds with one stone (NRA and Pres. Turd) lagomorph777 Jan 2018 #3
Since NRA lobbies to increase the the body count in America... Dopers_Greed Jan 2018 #4
this could be huge story. Makes so much sense now. Justice Jan 2018 #5
Put some chains around the NRA's Corgigal Jan 2018 #14
Gungeoneers are notably silent...eom Kolesar Jan 2018 #15
I didn't realize DU still had the Gungeon, but wonder what they'll say when they catch their breath Hekate Jan 2018 #28
Fmr NRA head, David Keene, helped lead a NRA delegation to Moscow in Dec15 including meeting w/#Rus Kolesar Jan 2018 #16
Wow, just wow. iluvtennis Jan 2018 #17
Wow. Busted!! Conservatives need to all go... just go.. gone. C'ya.. TOAST. vkkv Jan 2018 #18
Dont forget the Russian Facebook ads Abouttime Jan 2018 #32
Torshin not real banker; is very high level money launderer Bernardo de La Paz Jan 2018 #19
I'm wondering how far these traitors will go? Farmer-Rick Jan 2018 #20
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign ---- NRA Gives $3.6 Million to Walker, Legislators L. Coyote Jan 2018 #21
There are a lot of Democratic members who support the NRA... C Moon Jan 2018 #22
A Solid Investigation Follows the Money Wherever it Leads dlk Jan 2018 #23
The NRA is surely an organization morally bankrupt enough for this. BobTheSubgenius Jan 2018 #24
The CCCP built so many Trojan Horses at our gates... Hekate Jan 2018 #25
kick! StarryNite Jan 2018 #27
Don't forget the guy with NRA and Kremlin ties approaching Trump campaign Bradical79 Jan 2018 #30
Shit's getting real... Blue_Tires Jan 2018 #33
just hoping we get ALL of the dirty bastards bluestarone Jan 2018 #34

Botany

(70,289 posts)
1. Right wing fascism .... using gun humpers to get their way
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 10:47 AM
Jan 2018

Remember Trump's "Hillary is gonna change the Constitution to get rid of the
2nd amendment."

Botany

(70,289 posts)
8. So the NRA could have been using Russian money in senate races too?
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 11:05 AM
Jan 2018

How wide and how deep does the corruption go?

Botany

(70,289 posts)
10. Russ Feingold was @ 90% chance of winning
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 11:24 AM
Jan 2018

Dark money flooded OH to the point that a good man in Ted Strickland was
painted as the person behind OH losing jobs as Rob Portman was working for
w bush's admin. and jobs were flying out of America.

We had a coup and we had treason.

L. Coyote

(51,129 posts)
13. The Supreme Court election revealed the theft:
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 11:39 AM
Jan 2018




Dramatic as statistics goes! Not just election rigging, racism of the worst sort.
 

Abouttime

(675 posts)
29. Then these crooks must be removed
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 05:22 PM
Jan 2018

Where are our leaders in Congress?? Why are these losers in office??
If we do nothing and tRump and these crooks remain in office it will lead to blood in the streets, the blood will be on their hands.
Thanks to these assholes and climate change it’s going to be a long hot summer ahead. We should be in the streets every day!!

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
31. Well, Senator Ben Cardin's been making news.
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 05:37 PM
Jan 2018

He is our ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and will become its chair if we get a majority in November. So, obviously, one of the Americans Putin is most afraid of.

Cardin and other committee Democrats just issued an important call for protecting our democracy that's been taken note of by many, “Putin’s Asymmetrical Assault on Democracy in Russia and Europe: Implications for U.S. National Security.”

If you can't read this article, try opening it in a Chrome incognito window. Or read about it in many other journals.

Senate Report Outlines Playbook to Prevent Future Russian Election Meddling
Conspicuously absent from the report, however, is Republican buy-in.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/01/10/senate-report-outlines-playbook-to-prevent-future-russian-election-meddling-trump-elections-congress-europe-putin-senator-cardin-democrats-nato-european-union/


Btw, this is also a big, aggressive political move against the Republicans as more and more of their entanglements with Russia are being uncovered.


Dopers_Greed

(2,640 posts)
4. Since NRA lobbies to increase the the body count in America...
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 10:53 AM
Jan 2018

They should be charged with terrorism, aided by a foreign power

Justice

(7,182 posts)
5. this could be huge story. Makes so much sense now.
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 10:54 AM
Jan 2018


NRA going to Russia for that field trip. NRA having tens of millions of dollars more to give to 2016 election -

From the article:

"However, the NRA reported spending a record $55 million on the 2016 elections, including $30 million to support Trump – triple what the group devoted to backing Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential race. Most of that was money was spent by an arm of the NRA that is not required to disclose its donors.

Two people with close connections to the powerful gun lobby said its total election spending actually approached or exceeded $70 million. The reporting gap could be explained by the fact that independent groups are not required to reveal how much they spend on Internet ads or field operations, including get-out-the-vote efforts."

Also from article - in May 2016, Russian known mobster and money launderer Torshin spoke to Donald Trump Jr. at NRA national convention. Lots of connections back and forth between Torshin, Trump campaign and NRA.

NRA also gave millions to other campaigns, Rubio, Burr, many others. Most money is outside spending.

Good piece on nature of spending - http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/oct/11/counting-up-how-much-nra-spends/

Corgigal

(9,291 posts)
14. Put some chains around the NRA's
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 11:41 AM
Jan 2018

front door. Unemploy the people, cause that building belongs to taxpayers now.

Unpatriotic organization can get out.

Hekate

(90,189 posts)
28. I didn't realize DU still had the Gungeon, but wonder what they'll say when they catch their breath
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 03:04 PM
Jan 2018

Not enough to go there, but still.

Kolesar

(31,182 posts)
16. Fmr NRA head, David Keene, helped lead a NRA delegation to Moscow in Dec15 including meeting w/#Rus
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 12:21 PM
Jan 2018

... w/#Russia Deputy PM Dmitry Rogozin & TORSHIN.

🔥Sheriff David Clarke & Pete Brownell, a chief executive of a gun company & longtime NRA board member attended.🔥





 

Abouttime

(675 posts)
32. Dont forget the Russian Facebook ads
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 06:39 PM
Jan 2018

This Russian stolen election was a multi level sophisticated operation done with full knowledge of the tRump cabal.
Mueller should be crossing his t’s and dotting his i’s By now.
This is an open and shut case of trump with Russian help stealing the 2016 election.
tRumps obstructing Justice by firing James Comey is just frosting on the cake.

Bernardo de La Paz

(48,786 posts)
19. Torshin not real banker; is very high level money launderer
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 12:50 PM
Jan 2018

No surprise with the Trump Gang that there is money laundering involved.



Farmer-Rick

(10,072 posts)
20. I'm wondering how far these traitors will go?
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 12:51 PM
Jan 2018

Will they turn their backs when Putin decides to bomb or otherwise attack parts of the US? If they only attacked liberal states, would the gun lovers and racist just shrug if they were still sucking up Putin bribe money?

I had no idea how traitorous RepubliCONS and their donors really are. That's the problem with capitalism, if their is money to be made off it the capitalists will do it, even treason.

L. Coyote

(51,129 posts)
21. Wisconsin Democracy Campaign ---- NRA Gives $3.6 Million to Walker, Legislators
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 12:57 PM
Jan 2018

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
NRA Gives $3.6 Million to Walker, Legislators
Just one Democrat benefits from gun lobby’s generous donations.
By Wisconsin Democracy Campaign - Oct 5th, 2017 11:10 am

..... In Wisconsin, the National Rifle Association (NRA) spent about $3.6 million between January 2008 and June 2017 on outside electioneering activities and direct contributions to GOP Gov. Scott Walker, 52 legislators, and a legislative campaign committee.

Most of the spending, about $3.5 million, was by the NRA on outside electioneering to help Walker win his 2010 general, 2012 recall and 2014 reelection bids. Walker also received $22,500 in direct campaign contributions from pro-gun interests – the most of any legislative or statewide candidate – between January 2008 and June 2017.
In addition to Walker, current legislators received about $92,400 (see table below) in outside electioneering support and direct campaign contributions from the NRA’s political action committees and corporation, between January 2008 and June 2017. All but $500 went to support GOP legislators.

During much of the same time, Walker and GOP legislators, who took control of state government in January 2011, have approved numerous pro-gun bills led by state’s concealed carry law.

More recently, last month, a state Senate committee recommended passage of a proposal, Senate Bill 169, which would allow adults to carry concealed weapons in Wisconsin without a permit. ....................

C Moon

(12,188 posts)
22. There are a lot of Democratic members who support the NRA...
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 01:10 PM
Jan 2018

How will they feel about giving to the NRA if this is found to be true?

dlk

(11,432 posts)
23. A Solid Investigation Follows the Money Wherever it Leads
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 01:38 PM
Jan 2018

All that matters is whether or not federal laws were broken by the NRA. Supporters of the NRA can get over it (or not). It's their choice. The FBI will (and should) continue to do its job and pursue the investigation wherever the facts lead. When all is said and done, I believe the evidence will show widespread foreign influence in U. S. elections, and our democracy has paid a high price.

BobTheSubgenius

(11,535 posts)
24. The NRA is surely an organization morally bankrupt enough for this.
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 01:41 PM
Jan 2018

I haven't been out of bed that long, and the meds have yet to clear my system...which is a way of saying "Doing my own research is a little beyond me, ATM."

Does anyone know the legality of this?

Hekate

(90,189 posts)
25. The CCCP built so many Trojan Horses at our gates...
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 02:33 PM
Jan 2018

And we just wheeled them in.

The laugh-because-you-don't-want-to-cry irony of the NRA being punked is the gun-worshippers oft-stated creed that they are defending our freedoms. What they need to do is contemplate the First Amendment and use their brains.

 

Bradical79

(4,490 posts)
30. Don't forget the guy with NRA and Kremlin ties approaching Trump campaign
Thu Jan 18, 2018, 05:30 PM
Jan 2018
WASHINGTON — A conservative operative trumpeting his close ties to the National Rifle Association and Russia told a Trump campaign adviser last year that he could arrange a back-channel meeting between Donald J. Trump and Vladimir V. Putin, the Russian president, according to an email sent to the Trump campaign.

A May 2016 email to the campaign adviser, Rick Dearborn, bore the subject line “Kremlin Connection.” In it, the N.R.A. member said he wanted the advice of Mr. Dearborn and Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, then a foreign policy adviser to Mr. Trump and Mr. Dearborn’s longtime boss, about how to proceed in connecting the two leaders.

Russia, he wrote, was “quietly but actively seeking a dialogue with the U.S.” and would attempt to use the N.R.A.’s annual convention in Louisville, Ky., to make “ ‘first contact.’ ” The email, which was among a trove of campaign-related documents turned over to investigators on Capitol Hill, was described in detail to The New York Times.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.nytimes.com/2017/12/03/us/politics/trump-putin-russia-nra-campaign.amp.html
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