1) NRA-Russia thread. It's looking like David Keene masterminded the NRA-Russia "covert influence operation" with Torshin & Dimitri Simes, who sits on Center for National Interest board with Keene. #WednesdayWisdom
2) Keene has involved multiple orgs. in the operation. That includes NRA (board), Center for National Interest (board)[publishes Butina op-ed], Washington Times (opinion editor)[Published op-ed by Torshin], and American Conservative Union (former longtime chair)
3) The Center for National Interest is getting WAY TOO LITTLE attention in the NRA-Russia investigations. Ditto for the American Conservative Union (CPAC). Keene was chair at ACU from 1984-2011.
4) While Keene was chair at ACU, he & vice chair Donald Devine laid out a "non-interventionist" vision for the GOP that included cooperation w/ Vladimir Putin. NATO, former Soviet republics were a matter for Europe to handle. questia.com/magazine/1G1-7…
5) Keene was articulating a slightly more cynical version of the non-interventionist foreign policy called for by Pat Buchanan. Butina buddy Paul Erickson managed Buchanan's campaign in 1992.
6) Keene & Buchanan had a bone to pick with Neo-Conservatives like Bill Kristol. Robert Kagan, Paul Wolfowitz--supporters & managers of the 2003 Iraq War. There was anti-Semitic element. Buchanan went after Israel. Keene wouldn't go that far.
7) Keene & Erickson are both guys who were down on their luck when influenced by the Russians. Keene had just been kicked out of ACU for embezzling 300K+ through his ex-wife, the ACU "administrative director."
8) Erickson was also hard on his luck, a guy who hadn't been a figure in national politics for decades. A guy with a bad rep who got kicked off ACU board (lots of drama w/ ACU) and apparently went broke.
9) Who got to David Keene first, Alexander Torshin (2011) or Dmitri Simes? I don't know yet. Keene joined NRA board in 2000. I don't know when he joined the Center for National Interest board and started working w/ Simes.
10) More about Keene's fellow Center for National Interest board member Dmitri Simes. He's Russian born. He traveled to Moscow to meet w/ Putin & other Russian officials in Feb. 2015, not long before Keene's Dec. 2015 trip there w/ NRA delegation.
11) You can argue that Pat Buchanan is ideologically pure (albeit radical) in his belief that Russia is a special, Christian nation like us & we should avoid all foreign entanglements. It's far more cynical with Keene and $ is involved.
12) Authorities are reporting Alexander Torshin laundered "tens of millions" of dollars (through Dubai & elsewhere) in conjunction with Erickson/Butina investigation. NRA gave Trump $30 mil, was estimated to have spent as much as $70 mil on 2016 elections.
13) At least $300K of Paul Erickson & Maria Butina's financial transactions is being investigated by Wells Fargo, Treasury, FBI. Mueller knows about it. The NRA is screwed. Reporting will tie Keene firmly to Erickson soon.
14) Keene first brought Erickson into it in operation (I think) in Nov. 2013 when they attended Butina "Right to Bear Arms" meeting in Moscow. Keene spoke. Butina & Erickson became bosom buddies (sorry for ban pun) after that.
15) We now can confirm Erickson also joined Keene on NRA delegation's trip to Moscow in Dec. 2015 & suspiciously withdrew $14K from his account while there. Keene/Torshin were Alphas. Butina/Erickson were worker-bees.
16) I am REALLY wondering if Pat Buchanan is in on the NRA-Russia "covert influence operation." A reporter needs to ask him that question. Buchanan is tied to Erickson & mag American Conservative (co-founder). Both Buchanan & George O'Neill have published pro-Russia pieces there.
17) A couple of other guys in Butina/Erickson "covert influence operation" mix are Saul Anuzis (ties: Mercer, NRA public affairs comm, Ted Cruz, Cambridge) and Richard Burt (Center for National Interest board, Russian oil/gas lobbyist in DC)
18) Burt co-wrote Trump speech at April 27, 2016 Mayflower Hotel foreign policy speech organized by Center for National Interest. Oh & don't forget Julie Eisenhower who met Butina in Pennsylvania during AU trip. Another pro-Russian American loved by George O'Neill.
19) George O'Neill (U.S. Person 2) also promoted the Center for National Interest. CNI's fingermarks are all over the Keene/Torshin/Simes influence operation. They had inside guy w/ Dmitri Simes & low profile.
20) Another crazy discovery is Paul Erickson sent $15K to California company just established by Jack Abramoff's son, a recent college grad. Don't be surprised to see Abramoff pulled into NRA-Russia op. He has history w/ NRA leaders (Don Young, Norquist)
21) What we still need is two things: 1) Definitive link between David Keene & Paul Erickson that shows Keene directing Erickson's activities. 2) Documentation that shows financial ties b/n Torshin/Erickson/Butina & NRA dark money arm.
22) For more info, see my NRA-Russia timeline: medium.com/@LaddEveritt/f…
23) How could I forget? The Center for National Interest was founded by Nixon. Pat Buchanan, "Mr. Inside," was opposition researcher in Nixon administration.
