1. So I spent the past few months looking into connections between Russia, the Religious Right, and the National Prayer Breakfast.
Guess what? A lot of it’s directly relevant to Monday’s DoJ affidavit charging Mariia Butina “conspiracy.” religionnews.com/2018/07/18/why…
Guess what? A lot of it’s directly relevant to Monday’s DoJ affidavit charging Mariia Butina “conspiracy.” religionnews.com/2018/07/18/why…
2. First, let’s talk about what that affidavit was.
It charges Butina — a Russian citizen living in the U.S. — with “conspiracy” against the U.S., and included this fun tidbit: she allegedly tried to use the National Prayer Breakfast as a way to create a “back channel.”
It charges Butina — a Russian citizen living in the U.S. — with “conspiracy” against the U.S., and included this fun tidbit: she allegedly tried to use the National Prayer Breakfast as a way to create a “back channel.”
3. The National Prayer Breakfast is really odd thing.
Entire books have been written about the faith-fueled group that runs it (hi @JeffSharlet), which goes by various names such as the Fellowship, the Family, and the International Foundation.
It’s…different.
Entire books have been written about the faith-fueled group that runs it (hi @JeffSharlet), which goes by various names such as the Fellowship, the Family, and the International Foundation.
It’s…different.
4. The thing is, the Fellowship/Family appears to value relationships more than anything else — to the point where they don’t seem super concerned about the motives of people who attend their events (like the prayer breakfast).
5. The prayer breakfast itself has long been known to be more than just one event.
It’s essentially a group of meetings AROUND the breakfast, and the Fellowship/Family’s dedication to anonymity keeps those meetings hush-hush.
You can see the appeal to foreign groups.
It’s essentially a group of meetings AROUND the breakfast, and the Fellowship/Family’s dedication to anonymity keeps those meetings hush-hush.
You can see the appeal to foreign groups.
6. Now, is it unusual for Russians to attend the National Prayer Breakfast?
Not at all. The de facto head of the Family/Fellowship has been traveling to Russia for 50 years, and spoke at a RUSSIAN prayer breakfast with — yes — Alexander Torshin.
Not at all. The de facto head of the Family/Fellowship has been traveling to Russia for 50 years, and spoke at a RUSSIAN prayer breakfast with — yes — Alexander Torshin.
7. How do I know Doug Burleigh was there?
Well:
1) He confirmed it to RNS
2) There’s this video, in which he also lauds the Trump-Putin connection and says the press “hates” Trump.
Well:
1) He confirmed it to RNS
2) There’s this video, in which he also lauds the Trump-Putin connection and says the press “hates” Trump.
8. Now, does this mean Burleigh or the National Prayer Breakfast had nefarious intentions, etc?
No.
But does it make it pretty clear why bad-faith Russian actors might want to target their events?
Gonna go with yes.
No.
But does it make it pretty clear why bad-faith Russian actors might want to target their events?
Gonna go with yes.
9. Also worth noting that per Jim Slattery, Alexander Torshin was invited to this year’s National Prayer breakfast.
It’s unclear if he attended, but a healthy number of Russians did.
The possible subtext for that is…well, check the screenshot below.
It’s unclear if he attended, but a healthy number of Russians did.
The possible subtext for that is…well, check the screenshot below.
10. Anyway, there’s lots more to this story, as I’m sure lots of reporters (including myself) will note in the coming days.
Stay tuned. religionnews.com/2018/07/18/why…
Stay tuned. religionnews.com/2018/07/18/why…
11. (Also sorry for the numerous typos in this thread I was in transit and my fingers are tired)
