[Thread] We're starting to see RTs and likes on an old thread we wrote about Alexander Torshin/Maria Butina Russian influence spreading into TN via Kline Preston, the longterm (10+ year) campaign manager of @MarshaBlackburn.
This is probably because of the #SenateIntelReport
This is probably because of the #SenateIntelReport
which dropped a few days ago. Yes, it does include quite a bit of info about Torshin and Butina's activities in Nashville.
We notice it also says members of the Trump Transition Team (again, Blackburn was a co-chair of the Transition) were subject to Russian influence.
We notice it also says members of the Trump Transition Team (again, Blackburn was a co-chair of the Transition) were subject to Russian influence.
Again, @MarshaBlackburn was one of only four members of Congress selected for the Trump Transition Team; she was named a Vice Chair of the organization along with Kushner, all the Trump kids, Mike Flynn etc.
politico.com/blogs/donald-t…
politico.com/blogs/donald-t…
#SenateIntelReport mentions the spying efforts of Butina and Torshin were closely woven with @NRA - also a Blackburn closely allied org.
.@NRA made Blackburn's #TNSen race one of its very highest priorities in 2018. (Info via @teamtrace)
On page 593 of the PDF we begin getting into the meat of the Kline Preston story.
According to Senate Intel, Torshin began trying to cultivate American politicians as early as 2009.
According to Senate Intel, Torshin began trying to cultivate American politicians as early as 2009.
In this now infamous 2018 article by @TNLookout reporter @anitawadhwani and @Tennessean's @joelebert29 (cited repeatedly in the Intel report) Preston says he's been pals with Torshin "for a decade." What kind of entree did he help Torshin obtain?
tennessean.com/story/news/201…
tennessean.com/story/news/201…
So far reporting has focused mostly on Preston's ties to Torshin, as in his 2012 accompaniment of the Russian kingpin to view voting machines in Williamson County, TN about three miles from @MarshaBlackburn's home.
(This of course was approved by @TNGOP's state Coordinator of Elections @MarkGoinsTN, among others... see @TimKMak article for screenshots of the approval email)
npr.org/2018/05/11/610…
npr.org/2018/05/11/610…
Torshin himself says he was invited by @sectrehargett.
Anyway, looks like Butina also made at least one special trip to visit Preston (and Blackburn?) in Nashville in early 2015.
Preston leaves her glowing praise on a social media post shortly after.
The Tweets above from Torshin's account showing him viewing TN voting machines are still live (search ""from:torshin_ru since:2012-11-06 until:2012-11-10").
Blackburn claims she "never met" Torshin, despite the photo above placing him within walking distance of her house. Also, we know the two of them were in the same place at the same time - @TNGOP victory party on Nov. 5, 2012 at Nashville's Lowes Vanderbilt hotel.
We notice substantial portions of the Intel report to do with Torshin and Butina are blacked out.
Is this an active investigation? Stay tuned.
Is this an active investigation? Stay tuned.
Oh, and - one more important detail. Here are the docs showing Kline Preston registered as the President of @MarshaBlackburn's campaign re-elect organization for the years 2002 - 2009.
scribd.com/document/38135…
scribd.com/document/38135…
Screenshots of his old website showing himself as President as late as 2014.
He cannot credibly distance himself from his relationship with Blackburn.
He cannot credibly distance himself from his relationship with Blackburn.
