(Thread) Are Ukrainian oligarchs throwing Giuliani under the bus?
nytimes.com/2019/11/25/us/…
This article packs in lots of information.
Sources are interviews with Firtash and Kolomoisky (Ukrainian oligarchs) and “several other people with knowledge of Giuliani’s dealings.”
nytimes.com/2019/11/25/us/…
This article packs in lots of information.
Sources are interviews with Firtash and Kolomoisky (Ukrainian oligarchs) and “several other people with knowledge of Giuliani’s dealings.”
1/ First, to summarize.
According to this article, Parnas met with Firtash at Giuliani’s direction and encouraged Firtash to help in the hunt for compromising dirt on Biden “as part of any potential resolution to his extradition matter.”
According to this article, Parnas met with Firtash at Giuliani’s direction and encouraged Firtash to help in the hunt for compromising dirt on Biden “as part of any potential resolution to his extradition matter.”
2/ “As part of” and “potential resolution” sets this encounter up the solicitation of a bribe.
(The client is Parnas)
It seems to me we can paraphrase it like this: If Firtash wants help resolving his DOJ problems, he can help Giuliani dig up [manufacture] dirt on Biden.
(The client is Parnas)
It seems to me we can paraphrase it like this: If Firtash wants help resolving his DOJ problems, he can help Giuliani dig up [manufacture] dirt on Biden.
3/ The deal included “help with his [Firtash's] DOJ problems” if Firtash hires Trump-selected lawyers.
Notice the word “if”
I see a second solicitation of a bribe: Help with DOJ problems in exchange for hiring Trump-selected lawyers.
Notice the word “if”
I see a second solicitation of a bribe: Help with DOJ problems in exchange for hiring Trump-selected lawyers.
4/ Firtash did hire Ms. Toensing and Mr. DiGenova and paid them $1.2 million in legal fees, plus a “referral” fee to Parnas.
In August, the lawyers pleaded his case to attorney general Barr.
OK, lawyers can make a lot of money, but $1.2 million for arguing a case to the DOJ ???
In August, the lawyers pleaded his case to attorney general Barr.
OK, lawyers can make a lot of money, but $1.2 million for arguing a case to the DOJ ???
5/ [I'm on an airplane, so I may get disconnected at any time. Plus I'm sort of amazed by this article. If I'm misreading, I trust Twitter to tell me :)]
Here's the interesting part: Firtash said, “Without my will and desire I was sucked into this internal U.S. fight” :
Here's the interesting part: Firtash said, “Without my will and desire I was sucked into this internal U.S. fight” :
6/ Firtash is borrowing language from the impeachment hearings.
Several witnesses testified that they cautioned Zelensky against giving into Sondland’s requests (demands) and embroiling himself in internal American politics.
Several witnesses testified that they cautioned Zelensky against giving into Sondland’s requests (demands) and embroiling himself in internal American politics.
7/ OK, so, Firtash now claims that he was “sucked” into an “internal US fight.”
The implication is that he (1) didn’t want to get involved and (2) Giuliani was on what Fiona Hill called a “political errand.”
So, he had no choice but to hand over $1.2 million in “legal fees” ?
The implication is that he (1) didn’t want to get involved and (2) Giuliani was on what Fiona Hill called a “political errand.”
So, he had no choice but to hand over $1.2 million in “legal fees” ?
8/ If he was "sucked in," the implicationis that if the personal lawyer for the president makes a suggestion (or asks a favor), a person says "no" at great risk.
I am not taking Firtash at his word. He’s a crook looking to protect himself.
But his word choice is interesting.
I am not taking Firtash at his word. He’s a crook looking to protect himself.
But his word choice is interesting.
10/ It looks to me like Firtash is ready to throw Giuliani under the bus—which indicates that he understands he doesn’t have to align himself with Giuliani and Trump.
Giuliani (of course) claimed that there was “nothing improper about seeking information from Firtash.”
Giuliani (of course) claimed that there was “nothing improper about seeking information from Firtash.”
11/ (there is no #9. I mis-numbered)
However, if the allegations from Lev Parnas are true, Giuliani did more than seek information.
Giuliani offered to leverage government actions (“helping” with his DOJ case) in exchange for information that would benefit Trump personally.
However, if the allegations from Lev Parnas are true, Giuliani did more than seek information.
Giuliani offered to leverage government actions (“helping” with his DOJ case) in exchange for information that would benefit Trump personally.
12/ Also, if true, this is yet another example of the kind of abuse of power for which Trump is now being impeached: Using the levers of government for his own personal benefit.
Lev Parnas is also pointing his finger all the way to Trump:
Lev Parnas is also pointing his finger all the way to Trump:
13/ Apparently Giuliani’s made headway with getting Zelensky’s opponent to open an investigation into Biden, but his plans were foiled when Zelensky was elected.👇
This is also new to me, so it's either new info from Parnas or I missed it.
This is also new to me, so it's either new info from Parnas or I missed it.
14/ Zelensky, remember, was elected on an anti-corruption platform.
The article also recounts an unsuccessful attempt to turn oligarch Kolomoisky into a conduit to Zelensky.
Parnas’s lawyer said that Kolomoisky was “vulnerable” because he had legal troubles in the US:
The article also recounts an unsuccessful attempt to turn oligarch Kolomoisky into a conduit to Zelensky.
Parnas’s lawyer said that Kolomoisky was “vulnerable” because he had legal troubles in the US:
15/ Kolomoisky was having nothing to do with it:
16/ Afterward, Guiliani slammed Kolomoisky by name, calling him (ironically) a 'criminal oligarch’ for his refusal to play Giuliani’s came.
Kolomoisky, then accurately predicted that Giuliani’s plan would turn into a scandal in the US as a plot against Biden.
Kolomoisky, then accurately predicted that Giuliani’s plan would turn into a scandal in the US as a plot against Biden.
17/ What we see here is Guiliani trying to tap into Ukraine’ history of corruption (launching political investigations).
So he’s there, trying his best to make Ukraine more corrupt as part of his attempt to help his personal client (Trump).
So he’s there, trying his best to make Ukraine more corrupt as part of his attempt to help his personal client (Trump).
18/ We learned from expert testimony the past two weeks, that this is exactly what Russia was doing in Ukraine. They were trying to beat Ukraine by actually conquering the country, and failing that, to beat them with corruption.
19/ This is a new concept to me: To conquer a nation through corruption. I've just learned of it in the last two years.
It's the same way Trump corrupts people and institutions.
He lures them in. He compromises them. Then he owns them.
It's the same way Trump corrupts people and institutions.
He lures them in. He compromises them. Then he owns them.
20/ I talked about that here:
There has been a lot of speculation about Trump's relationship to Putin.
I'll add one more angle: They are soul mates.
There has been a lot of speculation about Trump's relationship to Putin.
I'll add one more angle: They are soul mates.
I don't know if he actually believes that, but from what he told the interviewer, it would appear that he's distancing himself from Giuliani and Trump, casting himself as a victim (he was "sucked" in).
This tells me that people watching see that . . .
This tells me that people watching see that . . .
. . . Trump is losing in the sense that he did not get away with strong-arming Ukraine into announcing the investigations.
Lots of Twitter folks, on the other hand, seem to feel that Trump is winning because the GOP is lining up behind him.
All that tells us is that . . .
Lots of Twitter folks, on the other hand, seem to feel that Trump is winning because the GOP is lining up behind him.
All that tells us is that . . .
. . . GOP leadership is willing to shield a corrupt president.
But this isn't new. The GOP has been shielding Trump since the Obama administration told McConnell that the Russians were interfering on Trump's behalf, and McConnell wanted it hushed.
Trump and Guiliani lost . . .
But this isn't new. The GOP has been shielding Trump since the Obama administration told McConnell that the Russians were interfering on Trump's behalf, and McConnell wanted it hushed.
Trump and Guiliani lost . . .
. . . in the sense that the gambit didn't work. Ukraine did not announce an investigation that would implicate Biden, making it look to all the world as if Ukraine had decided, on its own, to do the investigation.
Firtash, the world, and most importantly, Ukraine. . .
Firtash, the world, and most importantly, Ukraine. . .
. . . are watching as Trump and Giuliani's gambit is exposed.
(Gambit may be the wrong word)
I think it's fairly clear that Trump will not succeed in turning the US into a Russian-style oligarchy with himself as the head.
He tried. He's failing. That's clear.
(Gambit may be the wrong word)
I think it's fairly clear that Trump will not succeed in turning the US into a Russian-style oligarchy with himself as the head.
He tried. He's failing. That's clear.
I agree with all the comments about my "soul mate" comment.
Trump sees himself as Putin's soulmate. He admires Putin and uses his tactics.
Trump sees himself as Putin's soulmate. He admires Putin and uses his tactics.
I can do better.
Go read Judge Jackson's opinion in the McGahn case for a blistering rejection of Trump's bogus arguments.
The judge concludes that 250 years of American history shows that Trump isn't a king.
And "absolute immunity" isn't a thing.
Go read Judge Jackson's opinion in the McGahn case for a blistering rejection of Trump's bogus arguments.
The judge concludes that 250 years of American history shows that Trump isn't a king.
And "absolute immunity" isn't a thing.
Here you go: Some comforting evening reading 👇politico.com/f/?id=0000016e…
My threads are also blog posts. This one is here: terikanefield-blog.com/are-ukrainians…
