From our #FinCENFiles investigation: Bank of America flagged $500K Michael Flynn's company received for his secret Turkish lobbying in 2016 as suspicious. But the bank didn't file a suspicious activity report w/#FinCEN until after Trump fired him
This new information highlights a major finding of the #FinCENFiles investigation: Banks often miss suspicious transactions when they occur.
The details in Bank of America’s May 4, 2017 suspicious activity report, or SAR, shed light on Flynn’s actions at a time when they, and his legal fate, are the subject of intense scrutiny.
According to the SAR, Bank of America decided to review the account of Flynn Intel Group after Trump fired Flynn on Feb. 13, 2017.
According to the SAR, Bank of America decided to review the account of Flynn Intel Group after Trump fired Flynn on Feb. 13, 2017. Bank of America’s automated monitoring systems as well as news reports about Flynn & his firm sparked the review of his acct, according to the SAR.
“Due to the negative media regarding the relationship between former national security advisor Michael Flynn and Turkish entrepreneur Ekim Altekin [sic] and questions surrounding the source of funds, the wire deposits appear suspicious,” the SAR said.
The wire transfers from Alptekin, ranging from $145,000 to $200,000, “did not contain any additional information to explain the purpose of the wires,” the SAR says.

The SAR adds that “there are questions regarding the source of funds that Alptekin used.”
The report also describes other transactions that appeared opaque, noting that the “purpose of the transfers is unknown.”
After the transfers from Alptekin, the Flynn account sent checks that added up to more than $500,000 over the course of three months in 2016. The SAR notes that the checks were in round-dollar payments, considered one hallmark of suspicious activity or money laundering.
The SAR notes that the checks referenced “confidence” or “Boston.” According to court documents, “confidence” refers to the code name for the Gülen project that Bijan Rafiekian, Flynn Intel Group co-founder, and Alptekin came up with.

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More from @JasonLeopold

16 Oct
This is INCREDIBLE

Judge Reggie Walton: I think when a president makes an unambiguous statement that he was declassifying information I don't think anything more is required. He clearly has indicated intent.

Walton wants WH counsel to speak to Trump about his tweets/intent
HOLY SHIT!

Judge Walton continues this hearing until next week. He specifically wants govt atty to get WH counsel to speak to Trump and find out intent of his declassification tweets and submit with the court
HISTORIC day. Govt attorneys can't just say Trump's tweets are meaningless and we should not take his orders seriously as they have been doing for 3+ years.

Now, govt attorneys must find out directly from the president what his intent was and file it with the court.

#FOIA
Read 4 tweets
13 Oct
BREAKING: DOJ says WH did not send a declassification order re: Trump's tweets about "declassifying" all "Russia hoax" docs.

This is in response to 1 of 3 emergency motions @BuzzFeedNews & I filed.

ImageImageImage
THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENTS ON TWITTER DID NOT DECLASSIFY ANY INFORMATION--DOJ Image
Short of getting thousands of unredcated documents, this is exactly what I had hoped to pry loose out of DOJ.
Read 6 tweets
11 Oct
THREAD

In March 2017, I filed a #FOIA request w/FBI along w/@_rshapiro for a wide range of records the agency had on Trump (prior to his presidency) & Trump's businesses.

We then sued. FBI turned over some docs but withheld many. 1 reason: ongoing investigation!

1/
For example, here's a doc related to Trump Plaza Hotel, the details of which have been withheld for decades b/c disclosure, FBI says, would interfere with ongoing law enforcement proceedings. That's the b7a exemption. And here's a page from a new FBI declaration abt it

2/
Here's some more news about what the FBI has on Trump's businesses that it won't turn over from the newly filed declaration in my/@_rshapiro #FOIA lawsuit.

Bank Secrecy Act records FBI obtained from FinCEN. That may refer to the Trump Taj Mahal case. Or something else

3/
Read 7 tweets
7 Oct
@BuzzFeedNews & I have filed #FOIA lawsuits for nearly EVERY doc from the Mueller probe, including a suit to unredact the Mueller report, Crossfire Hurricane, DOJ IG FISA probe, AG Barr's intervention in Flynn & Stone cases

DOJ said there may be as many as 18 BILLION docs

1/
We will immediately explore how we can get these "Russia hoax" docs released in light of the claim by the President of the United States that he has ordered the declassification of all of these records.

2/
But, if DOJ advises the court, as it has previously, not to take Trump's tweets literally as it relates to the declassification and the release of "Russia hoax" documents I'll be sure to note quite loudly how the government overruled Trump

3/3
Read 4 tweets
6 Oct
Gutted by the death of Eddie Van Halen. I idolized the band /EVH when I was in high school (ask @vladduthiersCBS).

In 1991 (or 92? Early 90s), I was working for a record label in NYC and Van Halen was performing a surprise lunchtime concert at the Hard Rock Cafe

1/
I took the subway uptown and made it in. Van Halen performed for nearly an hour with Sammy Hagar. I remember being so amazed seeing Eddie Van Halen up close soloing on his guitar. When the show ended I elbowed my way up to the stage.

2/
I still vividly recall how much of a fanboy I was at that moment. I wanted to say something to Eddie and what came out was, "I've loved you guys since I was in high school." I then turned around and started to walk away.

Then I felt a tug on my hair (I had very long hair)

3/
Read 6 tweets
28 Sep
In 2018, @a_cormier_ & I wrote about a series of suspicious financial transactions that was reported to FinCEN involving Emin and Aras Agalarov that immediately preceded & followed the Trump Tower meeting in June 2016 #FinCENfiles

buzzfeednews.com/article/anthon…

buzzfeednews.com/article/anthon…
We followed that up with this story this week

A Russian Billionaire With Close Ties To Putin Made Suspicious Payments To Nobu

The high-end sushi empire received $600,000 as part of a deal with Aras Agalarov, a friend of Donald Trump's

buzzfeednews.com/article/johnte… #FinCENFiles
We now know that Mueller didn't really follow through on the revelations we disclosed in 2018
Read 4 tweets

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