Thread by @BBuchman_CNS

At the Kian trial this a.m., we heard testimony from Jim Courtovich, a partner of Sphere Consulting, the company Flynn Intel Group hired to compile a video that they initially said would help private investors better understand why the coup in Turkey happened/Gulen's alleged role

Courtovich said of his first mtg with Ekim Alptekin - the Dutch-Turkish biz man who prosecutors say paid FIG $600K - Ekim was deeply disappointed with what Sphere had done so far. He was expecting Olivia Pope (of the TV show Scandal) Courtovich said.

Ekim told him: "I'm expecting investigations, congressional hearings, stories in the press. I'm getting none of this."
Courtovich said he "almost fell out of his chair."
The scope of the project FIG initially pitched had apparently changed drastically, he explained.

Courtovich: "Ekim wanted hearings showcasing Gulen's role [in the coup], how funds went from Gulen schools to Turkey. If that's what he's trying to do, I told him, its a govt action & it has to be done officially."
Sphere told them they must file und. FARA or Lobby Discl. Act

"We were hired to create a video, not do what Ekim asked for at the meeting," Courtovich said.
Not longer after this meeting between Kian, Flynn and Sphere, Sphere drafted a new memo outlining the new goals.
In less than 48 hours, Turkey appeared to bite.

Courtovich said Ekim shared the new biz plan and shortly after, they rec'd an invite from the Deputy Chief of Mission (the #2 at the Turkish embassy) to deliver a presentation about what they planned to do.

Courtovich also testified that Bill McGinley, Turmp's former counsel, called after Election Day 2016 & asked if the op-ed in The Hill smearing Gulen was "a project someone paid for." FIG said no, which Courtovich said surprised Sphere. They had helped place the op-ed, after all.

Upon hearing this, Courtovich testified, McGinley says on the phone: "I think we have a conflict here, let's hang up."
I'll break down more of this in a full story later today for @CourthouseNews