Kushner thread:
Because we know now that Flynn is fully cooperating, Kushner is probably in big trouble. The key Flynn+Kushner+Russia events are the backchannel in Dec 2016, and Mueller’s filing yesterday says Flynn is cooperating on transition contacts w/Russia. See below: 1/
Because we know now that Flynn is fully cooperating, Kushner is probably in big trouble. The key Flynn+Kushner+Russia events are the backchannel in Dec 2016, and Mueller’s filing yesterday says Flynn is cooperating on transition contacts w/Russia. See below: 1/
2/ Mueller's filing specifies that Flynn is cooperating on transition contacts, and note how much Flynn has been rewarded (no jail). Trump official most implicated in those conacts is Kushner. @TimOBrien at Bloomberg has the same observation this morning: docs.google.com/document/d/1nR…
3/ I have speculated for a long time - since Flynn pleaded guilty to 1 charge - that he was cooperating on these transition contacts.
The big news from yesterday is that we now know Flynn is significantly cooperating on those Russian transition contacts. Trouble for Kushner.
The big news from yesterday is that we now know Flynn is significantly cooperating on those Russian transition contacts. Trouble for Kushner.
4/ Review the timeline, linked here (which I started last May):
Dec. 1, 2016: Flynn and Kushner met Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at Trump Tower. According to Kushner’s testimony, he proposed secret comms link with Kremlin through Russian Embassy. docs.google.com/document/d/1nR…
Dec. 1, 2016: Flynn and Kushner met Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at Trump Tower. According to Kushner’s testimony, he proposed secret comms link with Kremlin through Russian Embassy. docs.google.com/document/d/1nR…
5/ Also Dec 1, 2016:
On same day, @emptywheel observes from Senate testimony, Rob Goldstone (who set up June 6 Trump Tower meeting) and Ike Kaveladze (attended that meeting) discussed setting up communications between Trump and oligarch Aras Agalarov.
emptywheel.net/2018/05/28/the…
On same day, @emptywheel observes from Senate testimony, Rob Goldstone (who set up June 6 Trump Tower meeting) and Ike Kaveladze (attended that meeting) discussed setting up communications between Trump and oligarch Aras Agalarov.
emptywheel.net/2018/05/28/the…
6/ @emptywheel noted a Dec. 1 text from Ike K to Veselnitskaya (yes, the Trump Tower Russian spy) that Agalarov planned on meeting with Trump to restore communications.
So on Dec. 1, Kushner, Flynn, and multiple key Russians are setting up secret lines.
Why? Flynn knows...
So on Dec. 1, Kushner, Flynn, and multiple key Russians are setting up secret lines.
Why? Flynn knows...
7/ Dec. 7, 2016: Consistent w/ key allegation in Steele Dossier (cash for sanctions relief), Russia announces sale of 19.5% of state energy giant Rosneft ($11 billion). The identity of the buyers is initially concealed, and are later revealed to be Qatar and Swiss firm Glencore.
8/ Keep in mind the Steele Dossier was not yet public. Sen. McCain secretly delivers Steele Dossier to Comey on Dec. 9th. The Dossier isn't published until Jan 10, 2017.
So if there was indeed a Rosneft conspiracy, the co-conspirators did not yet know they had been exposed.
So if there was indeed a Rosneft conspiracy, the co-conspirators did not yet know they had been exposed.
9/ Odd financial twist: Russia may have bought back much of the 19.5% stake, claiming the sale was a temporary measure to bring in cash. Alternatively, a buy-back plan could create a paper transaction to generate commissions that could be paid without detection or regulation...
10/ Why 19.5% of Rosneft? The 19% in the Dossier’s description (p. 30) and the 19.5% in the actual Qatar deal makes sense, because there seems to be a 20% legal threshold rule for reporting financing and investors.
IF you were making a shady deal, make sure to keep it under 20%.
IF you were making a shady deal, make sure to keep it under 20%.
11/ Before you think, "WOW, Steele predicted a 19% Rosneft deal, then BOOM, it happened 4 months later with shady partners," keep in mind:
Some kind of Rosneft deal may have been in works for a while - starting off semi-legit. (But then became a vehicle for moving illegal cash.)
Some kind of Rosneft deal may have been in works for a while - starting off semi-legit. (But then became a vehicle for moving illegal cash.)
12/ I wrote this last March 2018 in @Slate on what happened next. *If* Kushner pushed a Gulf Crisis to coerce Qatar into giving him huge loans and bailouts to save 666 5th Ave - at the risk of war, no exaggeration - this is so much bigger than Watergate.
13/ Just leaving this here:
