Reza Zarrab’s ex-courier spoke to us for months and shared previously unreported bank records, photos and other evidence of his ex-boss’s money laundering empire.
Zarrab’s ex-courier Adem Karahan has been speaking to us on-record via Turkish translation for months by secure video. He says he helped haul tons of Zarrab’s gold across borders. Public records show that’s true.
This is his first interview with English-language news outlets.
Karahan provided bank records, travel documents, photographs and other evidence to support his claims.
* Ex-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was implicated in Zarrab’s scheme.
* Erdoğan’s son-in-law Berat Albayrak helped open a bank account for Zarrab.
* Zarrab’s family ties to the money moving business run deep.
The claim about Berat Albayrak particularly interests U.S. Senator @RonWyden, who has been probing Trump’s suspected meddling in the Zarrab case since October.
Here’s a photo of President Trump, Treasury Sec. Mnuchin, Jared Kushner and Albayrak in the Oval Office.
Senator Wyden’s reaction to our findings:
“This is outrageous.”
“In the big picture, all evidence points to President Trump interfering in a criminal investigation and sanctions enforcement as a favor to President Erdoğan.”
A Standard Chartered bank in Newark, N.J. filed a suspicious activity report (SAR) noting Karahan’s testimony to Turkish authorities that Zarrab got an 8 percent commission.
Four percent, Karahan said, went for bribes.
Prosecutors estimate Zarrab’s gas-for-gold scheme at $20 billion. Four percent of that is $800 million.
The largest publicly reported payoff to a Turkish official to date is in the tens of millions of dollars.
Where did the rest of the bribe money go?
Some stories can come to light through the bravery of sources willing to speak publicly about controversial issues.
This is true of our source, Adem, speaking out about the Zarrab case in a difficult environment to do so.
Democracies are stronger because of those willing to raise their voices and attach their names to stories.
They deserve the gratitude of the press and public.
Look out for my threads on two companion pieces to this article later in the day.
Inside the story at the top of the thread:
Read more about what Adem Karahan had to say about Trump Towers Istanbul.
Also, be sure to check out our partner @OCCRP's posts of this series, too.
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Yesterday, attorney Keith Davidson listened to a tape of this passage—and testified that Trump said "I hate the fact that we did it" about the "Stormy Daniels settlement."
A witness who authenticated more tapes is back on the stand today. 🧵
Michael Cohen quoted Trump saying "I hate the fact that we did it" in this tape, which the metadata suggests was recorded on Oct. 16, 2017.
There appears to be a discrepancy in the date on the name of the file (Oct. 7, 2016) and the one ascertained by the separate metadata report exhibit (Oct. 16, 2017).
The metadata is both more authoritative — and makes more sense in context.
Trump's criminal trial resumes this morning, but before the jury comes in, the judge will hear arguments over the next batch of alleged gag order violations after writing days ago: "jail may be a necessary punishment."
Live coverage ahead 🧵
A quick note:
Justice Merchan scheduled today's hearing well before issuing the ruling that stated "jail may be a necessary punishment," but Trump arguably has been on notice far longer.
See how Trump was "hereby warned" in the judge's order from April 1.
That's the statute capping the contempt penalty at a fine "not exceeding one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment, not exceeding thirty days."
On Tuesday, Merchan wrote that the fine "unfortunately will not achieve the desired result" if the "contemnor can easily afford" it.
When trial began, prosecutors told jurors that then-Stormy lawyer Keith Davidson asked Dylan Howard on election night when it seemed Trump would win: "What have we done?"
This is the text message exchange. Howard replied: "Oh my god."
Stay tuned for the afternoon session. 🧵
During the morning session, Davidson has been questioned about his texts with Howard — but prosecutors haven't yet gotten to this exchange.
We'll see if they get there by then end of the day.
(Note: The messages previously came into evidence through another witness.)
Davidson is shown this exchange, in which Howard said McDougal would get "more out of a deal with AMI than ABC."
Howarded added later: "I need this to happen," which Davidson said referred to the deal.
Critics of Manhattan DA Bragg's case have long questioned whether the alleged 2016 election-related conspiracy was a crime.
The first week of trial revealed that Trump's accused co-conspirators feared criminal prosecution, as it happened.
As it became clear Trump would win, then-Enquirer editor in chief Dylan Howard sent a close relative a message saying the soon-to-be POTUS-elect may pardon him for "electoral fraud."
(Since Howard wasn't in court, the jury couldn't see the message.)