Thread by @RealAndyLeeShow

As the Trudeau Foundation saga unfolds, it’s important to go back to the origins. Some details in the early reporting of it (which may be important) have been missed as the investigation continues.

This is one of the first stories about the Chinese donation.

I have questions.

The story goes: in 2013, the father of a student studying at the University of Montreal knew a wealthy Chinese businessman, and together, they helped arrange the million dollar donation which is now under investigation.

Who was the student, and who was his father? No one knows.

The story continues: the donation was to be used to further Canada-China relations through educational scholarships, and to honour the memory and leadership of Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Pierre helped forge ties between the University of Montreal’s Law Faculty and China.

The two businessmen were Bin Zhang and Niu Gensheng. Bin Zhang knew the father of the student at the University.

Now, this is important. It was to him [Bin Zhang] that Mr. Lefebvre presented his project, then the Chinese businessman in turn invited Mr. Niu to meet Mr. Lefebvre.

According to this story then - and assuming it’s accurate - Guy Lefebvre on behalf of the University of Montreal approached Bin Zhang and Niu Gensheng for the million dollar donation… not the other way around.

Curious. And not quite how the story has been pitched.

It says that Lefebvre negotiated the confidential donation agreement himself, which was sealed after three meetings held in the presence of an interpreter, because ‘even if I speak a little Mandarin, it is clearly insufficient to support a conversation.’

Where is the agreement?

We know at this point that the Trudeau Foundation was already involved, although it isn’t specifically mentioned in this article. Another 2014 story shows Alexandre Trudeau with the donors and Guy Lefebvre.

Was this one of the “sealed meetings?”

https://t.co/2ZBDAfNz9lchncia.org/en/news-detail…

What we don’t know is how the Trudeau Foundation came to be involved in the first place. Did the University approach the Foundation to use this scholarship money, or vice-versa? Or was it “directed” towards the Foundation by the PRC, as the Globe claims? theglobeandmail.com/politics/artic…

I’m just musing, but I think it’s obvious that the role of Guy Lefebvre has been widely overlooked. If he was indeed key to negotiating the agreement in the first place and was present, he should be questioned. Especially since we now know the cheques were bad, as reported today.

As should Alexandre Trudeau, because he was the Trudeau Foundation representative who was also present at these negotiations. Interesting that early stories don’t discuss funds actually going to the Foundation. Only to the University. How did that happen?

https://t.co/rUD3blzILhen.lnfund.org/index.php?s=/I…

Regardless - the University of Montreal is lying. Their recent statement said, “When the donation was announced in 2016, scientific and economic relations between the two countries were more open than they are now.” It was negotiated in 2014. 2013, even, according to its release.

In any event - you don’t just accept a donation of that size without there being records. There should be communications. Statements. Financials. And lots of them.

Where are they? This story points to their existence, yet after all these years and all this controversy - nothing?

There are a ton of things we don’t know. The origin of the donation. The initial point of contact. The agreement exists - it was signed. Where is it? The role of the Foundation. The role of Guy Lefebvre.

I’m working with some reporters to try to find out. I’ll keep you posted.

Furthermore - we are to believe that a renowned lawyer leading a renowned law faculty at a prestigious university negotiated a million dollar donation from a foreign national to said university and the Trudeau Foundation and the cheque was bad and no one figured it out until now?