Thread by @rgoodlaw

1. My <thread>
WSJ SCOOP on Peter Smith's 2016 operation to get Clinton emails

● WSJ raises specter Smith was killed, not suicide
● Emails involve payments to “Russian students”
● 4+ financiers
● Mueller expanding interest in Smith group
● potential ties to Flynn/Trump
...

https://twitter.com/WSJ/status/1048910417110753281

2. First, recall multiple reports that Peter Smith’s operation was potentially linked to Flynn/Trump campaign.

Ex-British security officer GCHQ Matt Tait (@pwnallthethings), who was approached by Smith, assessed Smith's "group was formed with the blessing of the Trump campaign."

3. Smith himself told @shaneharris—who broke the original story—of line of communication with Flynn, and Smith's emails “show that his small group considered Mr. Flynn and his consulting company…to be allies in their quest" for Clinton emails

WSJ 06/17:
wsj.com/articles/gop-o…

4. Smith's document to Tait listed groups involved in operation

One group: “Trump Campaign (in coordination to the extent permitted as an independent expenditure)”

Named campaign officials: Flynn, Clovis (who approved Papadop-RUS efforts), Bannon, Kellyanne Conway, Lisa Nelson

5. Flynn is extra-important because

WSJ 2017: “reports from intelligence agencies that describe Russian hackers discussing how to obtain emails from Mrs. Clinton’s server and then transmit them to Mr. Flynn via AN INTERMEDIARY”

(confirmed by @JasonLeopold @a_cormier_ reporting)

6. WSJ now raises specter Smith was murdered (foul play) not suicide.

Smith died suddenly about 10 days after WSJ interviewed him in 2017.

Was ruled suicide. Chicago Tribune reported details consistent with suicide: chicagotribune.com/news/local/pol…

But look at WSJ final two paragraphs:

7. ❗️email on Russia nexus via WSJ

10/11/16
To:Smith
Subject:“Wire Instructions—Clinton Email Reconnaissance Initiative”

Text:“This $100k total with the $50k received from you will allow us to fund the Washington Scholarship Fund for the Russian students for the promised $150K"

8. On "the promised $150K" in Smith email:

Note: @JasonLeopold @a_cormier_ reported “cash withdrawals totaling about $140,000” that Smith used: “PAID HACKERS who PROVIDED him emails, according to two bureau sources.”

Smith may have then had difficulty authenticating the emails.

9. Where may this all lead?

New WSJ report refers to “Smith’s activities as an area of expanding interest” to Mueller.

WSJ: John Szobocsan, a Peter Smith associate, appeared before grand jury recently (August) and was interviewed by Mueller’s team 3X earlier in the year.

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P.S. On Peter Smith's peculiar death.

Note: By summer 2018. Mueller's team added attorney Kathryn Rakoczy, "best known for her work on violent crime cases." (@woodruffbets reporting)

thedailybeast.com/inside-mueller…
(h/t @diatribestress)